Sunday, May 25, 2008

See! Turtles!



With a long bank holiday weekend ahead of me, it seemed the perfect opportunity for a day out somewhere. I have always loved animals and I love photography so I wanted to combine these in my day out. We decided on the Birmingham Sea Life Centre and so off we set. I have always found aquariums to be relaxing places, despite the throngs of people clamouring around the tanks. As I watch the fish effortlessly glide past I lose myself in their underwater world and everyone around me slides into the background. The only thing that can break this is the shrill screech of a young child who isn't getting their way or actually being jostled. I was prepared for all this and we got there early to beat the crowds. I had fun taking photos of the fish and managed to get a few nice photos, a couple of which I have posted on my photo blog.


There were fish from all all sorts of watery habitats but the thing that entranced me the most was the sea turtles. The two turtles were rescued as hatchlings and were called Molokai and Gulliver and were housed in a giant tank with one of those amazing tubes you can walk through. They seemed just as interested in checking out the curious visitors as we were about them and cruised by in lazy circuits surrounded by bejewelled fish of all sizes. Sea turtles have been on the earth since the dinosaurs were around but as ever, hunting them and adverse effects on the habitats and hatching grounds has meant that many species are endangered. I find that so sad so I'm putting my money where my mouth is and adopting a turtle through the Marine Conservation Society. It was a wonderful to see the turtles at the aquarium, who essentially act as ambassadors for their species. My friend took a couple of short videos on his mobile phone which I have posted here. Enjoy!

23 comments:

Catherine said...

I love aquariums too, the last one I visited was in Singapore on a Sunday afternoon and it was very, very crowded. But the jellyfish were mesmerising. Michele sent me.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful. What a treat. Thank you for posting these BK. Was that your voice I heard at the end of the first video? I couldn't make out the words but I did pick up a bit of that charming accent you Brits have!

Nepharia said...

Those were outstanding videos for a phone! Well done. :D

kenju said...

Goooooood videos!! About a year ago, we went to a special show at our science museum and they had a sea turtle that was about 147 years old. I don't know how they could tell, but they could.

Melody said...

I like the name of this post!! You!! Playing with words.

I have been lucky enough to actually see 'Sea Turtles' in the wild, just off Green Island which is about 30 mins east off Cairns. Amazing. Saw one too when we visited the Whitsunday's last year.

I think you need a visit to the Great Barrier Reed BK.

(Great videos too btw.)

Karen said...

Hi bob-kat! Visiting you via Michele. Love the photos and I too enjoy aquariums. Sounds like you had a great day. We're having a holiday weekend here and so I'm watching the French Open. A great morning for me!

Michele says hi!

Dianne said...

I have to try back for the first video, blogger was hogging it for himself.

Loved the Sea Turtle and all the happy sounds in the background.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the movies.

The Missouri Department of Conservation runs some fabulous aquariums based on local ecosystems -- really fascinating stuff.

Cheers.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for stopping by.. and what a treat to have come here. I love turtles of all sizes and shapes. None quit so topped one of my daughter's teachers that traveled from the US to Germany to take a teaching job for children of service members. He came with his pockets filled with the different turtles he had that could be out of water for long periods of time.

Anonymous said...

I love turtles.

Anonymous said...

michele sent me...sorry forgot toi mention that.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

What a WONDERFUL thing to do, Bob-Kat...I am going to look into this and see if we have a U.S. Branch of Save-The-Turtles....
Like you, I love watching all the Sea Creatires in their habitat....
I spent 14 weeks on The Big Island in Hawai and went Snorkling almost every day...How I wish I had HAD an undersea Camera....It was so incredibly Peaceful ad quiet....!
Lovely Post, my dear.

Unknown said...

I cannot recall the last Aquarium visit of mine. But there is one nearby, I believe. This Blog post has encouraged me to check it out!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Turtles are way cool.

And for the record, I can't stand screechy kids, either. And I'm a mom! (it's an instant migraine and believe me, I've got my kids well trained)

Bobkat said...

Susan, D'you know that normal background noise (below the decibel level of an aircraft taking off) doesn't bother me too much, especially at places where I expect there to be excited kids. But the ones that make that high pitched screeching because they can't get their own way, well, it's like nails down a blackboard to me. Really, I can't stand it for even a second!

MaR said...

How lovely!! I should go to our aquarium too, I haven't been there in ages.

Gwynne said...

I love sea turtles also...they seem so playful and docile. My daughter and I body surfed with them in Kauai...they literally surfed the waves just for fun, like we were doing. I had no idea they had been around since the dinosaurs. Wow!

Shephard said...

I love aquariums, and turtles even more so... how they glide through the water, more graceful than flying birds. :)

~S

pink dogwood said...

nice post - btw, congratulations on your promotion and good luck :)

rashbre said...

Interesting videos. The water is so clear its like they are flying by. What with the Aquarium, the Zoo and the olden times show, you've been collecting some very interesting pictures recently!

Jerry in Tampa said...

Bob-kat - It's always a treat to visit your site!
AWESOME!!!
Michele sent me and I will be back!!!


Jerry in Tampa

pink dogwood said...

Nice movie clips - thanks for sharing. Those turtles are absolutely gorgeous. btw, who is Michele?

Anonymous said...

It is relaxing and makes me feel stranded here on land. Congrats on the new job position. Michele is on break but still says hi.