Earth Hour

One month to go before Earth Hour...

The idea as you probably know is for everyone to switch of electrical appliances for one hour in an attempt to raise awareness in the need to take action one climate change.

Climate change is a serious issue for sea turtles, from the rise of sea levels that can destroy nesting grounds, to the skewing of the sex ratios [the sex of turtles is determined by the incubation temperature, the hotter it is the more females are produced, and too hot means boiled eggs!]

The other issue is switching the lights off, especially along the seashore and nesting beaches, and not only for Earth Hour. For millions of years, turtles have been coming to nest on beaches - turtles have been around for about 220 million years, humans c. 200 thousand years and light bulb 200 years! Clearly turtles are adapted to an artificial light free world, and have difficulties with all the light pollution. Light helps them orientate when on land;the maritime forests that used to back many beaches provided dark areas whereas the horizon over the sea was lighter.

One of the only remaining pristine beaches left in Antigua: Rendez-Vous. ©Kate/JBHP

Find a light free beach and try for yourself, the horizon over the sea is lighter than the land!

Dark night on the beach: Orion. ©Dom/JBHP

Hatchlings develop in total darkness and after 50 to 70 days emerge into a very 'bright' world; well bright by their standards! But even by our standards it is bright: street lights that back beaches, brightly lit seafront properties, resorts with beach lights... all of that causes confusion for the hatchlings, sends them the wrong way and for most of them spells death.

Coastal development and associated lights as seen by a turtle. ©Dom/JBHP

A few lucky ones are found in time, or end up in a swimming pool where they can easily be collected and returned to the beach.

Hatchling finding the water; this nest emerged late afternoon providing an excellent photoshoot opportunity. Don't use flash photography on hatchlings or adults. ©Dom/JBHP

If you do find hatchlings going the wrong way, give them a hand, return them to the beach (not your aquarium!) or call the local turtle group and ask for guidance (for Antigua:720 6955). When taking them back to the beach, find a dark corner and if you can get the lights to be switched off; don't put them into the water, let them crawl (at least a meter or two) into the surf so that they know where to come back to when they are adults.

Leatherback season is getting under way in Antigua, head out to the beach with the EAG and witness a truly unique spectacle and for more guidance on beach lighting look at the Antigua Sea Turtle Blog. There are turtles nesting throughout the Caribbean, Central America, West Africa, East Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean, Australia, India, the Gulf region .... wherever you are switch your lights off and keep an eye open! Chances are there will be a turtle research group in the area, get in touch!

Now switch those lights off and enjoy the show!

View from Pasture Beach at night. ©Kate/JBHP