Faculty in the Field: Turtles at Dusk

Photography by Jeanette Wyneken, Ph.D.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

In Hawaii, green sea turtles uniquely come ashore to bask and sleep. These adult Hawaiian green turtles are unusual in this behavior, as they are not ashore to nest, and they are not sick. Early in this research trip we needed to identify the best sights to collect data. Dozens of green turtles were coming ashore as the sun was dropping low in the sky. Our local collaborators needed to collect their data and we were exploring potential field sites. As soon as we came onto the beach, the combination of adult sea turtles coming ashore, and the setting sun's light made us stop and appreciate the moment. The warm color from the sun and misty air made the turtles and the nearby lava rocks stand out against the sky strikingly.