1 Million Turtles Community Conservation Program
The Experiment and Training
By participating in the National Nest Predation Survey, you will become part of a network of Citizen Scientists.
You will setup the experiment, collect and report the data, which will be analysed by the 1 Million Turtles team and displayed on an interactive map.
So let's get started with your training.
Training and overview
What is the National Nest Predation Survey?
What is the National Nest Predation Survey?
What is the National Nest Predation Survey?
Nest predation rates on turtle nests are very high in many parts of the country. Introduced foxes are the major predator. By conducting the National Nest Predation Survey throughout the country we will develop a national interactive 'hotspot' map to determine region specific estimates of predation rates
What can I do?
What is the National Nest Predation Survey?
What is the National Nest Predation Survey?
You will be trained as a Citizen Scientist to conduct the experiment in your region. The experiment will see you create artificial nests by placing commercial chicken eggs underground near your local wetland and monitoring their fate.
Citizen Scientists throughout the country are doing the same thing, creating a network of geo-specific data.
Why do I need to Train?
What is the National Nest Predation Survey?
Why do I need to Train?
To become a scientist you need to train. Similarly to become a Citizen Scientist, you must to do some training to understand how to implement the experimental protocols in an ethically responsible way, while minimising any potential risk of injury or damage.
The Three R's
Where can I do the Survey?
Why do I need to Train?
The Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes promotes the ethical, humane and responsible use of animals for scientific purposes.
Your training will include basic information about the code and how it is being applied to this survey.
You will be required to pass a short quiz before you can start the survey.
Where can I do the Survey?
Where can I do the Survey?
Where can I do the Survey?
The Survey must be done on private land or under the guidance or approval from local wetland management agencies.
Ideally the survey is done near a wetland (eg River, creek, lagoon, pond), but it can be done anywhere if you have enough space.
What is enough space? A standard backyard is not enough space. You would need to own "acreage" to join in. However, please alert your local council or Local Land Services and alert them about this Citizen Science initiative and they may coordinate it in your suburban park or local creek.
When can I do the Survey?
Where can I do the Survey?
Where can I do the Survey?
The Survey can be done throughout the year, however we will be avoiding when peak nesting activity is occurring (November- Turtle Month).
Your data will be reported through the TurtleSAT app. It will be visualised almost instantaneously through a "hotspot" map.
Equipment and Setup
Equipment
Firstly, create a kit with the following:
- Gloves
- Alcohol wipes
- 1 × garbage bag
- 2 x carton of eggs
- 1 × first aid kit
- 1 × 15 cm hand auger
- 1 × star post plus cap
- 2 × cable ties
- 2 × 30 meter tapes
- 3 × surveys peg/stakes
- 1 x hand shovel
- 1 × star dropper
- 1 × hammer
- 10 × orange flags
- 1 × wildlife camera trap (aka remote sensor camera)
Setup
Site Selection and Risk Assessment
The Survey is to be conducted on private land. Land management agencies may conduct the National Nest Predation Survey on public land, however the lead manager must complete this training, as do all volunteers.
An example risk assessment has been provided here. You can update it for your local conditions. Please update it with your team and all participants should upload a copy as part of their registration at the end of the training module.
Please upload a completed risk assessment and any other approval/supporting documents. if you are from a land management agency conducting the trial on non private land. Upload an approval document indicating the locations (GPS coordinates), as well as acknowledging that all participants will be directed to the website to complete the training before participating in the Survey.). Approval will not be granted if the experimental plot is located in a known nesting area during the peak nesting period.
Select a Wetland
Freshwater turtles are present in most wetlands throughout mainland Australia, hence a nest predation survey can be setup anywhere. However, you must conduct the experiment on private land or in conjunction with local management agencies. Turtles come out of the water and generally nest in habitats that are open and away from trees. It is best to conduct your nest predation survey within 100m from shore. Some turtles, like Eastern Long-Neck turtles, may walk long distances but most turtles nest relatively close to shore. You can often find dug up nests walking around your wetland. Eggs shells are commonly found on the ground and close to these nesting grounds make ideal areas to conduct your survey. Don't forget to record those dug up nests into TurtleSAT.org.au. Turtles dig a hole that is up to 30cm deep and will deposit 10-30 small eggs per nest. We will use larger chicken eggs in our artificial nests. Eggs will incubate underground for 2-3 months with most species, but some species like the Broad-Shelled Turtle, have eggs that remain underground for up to 12 months before hatching. The Nest Predation Survey can take place at any time of year, except during Turtle Month (November), to avoid encountering turtles actively nesting.
Setup Your 20m x 20m Site
It is best to have at least 2 people setting up a site. Measure out a 20m x 20m using the tape measures in your kit and at each of the four corners hammer in a small wooden stake. Place a star picket at a corner and place your trail camera (if you are using one) on the star picket facing towards the middle of your plot. Remember to turn on the camera and we recommend that the camera should be set to record three still shots with a 1-minute delay. GPS the location of your site. Please use decimal degrees. Only setup one site in an area. Around most wetlands, you can set up 3-4 sites to monitor.
Creating Nests
Ensure you are wearing gloves at this point. Now you need to randomly dig 10 holes and place two eggs in each nest. We recommend using and auger to create a round nest. Trowels can also be used, but don't use a shovel. Dig the hole approximately 10cm wide and 15-20cm deep. Once eggs are placed in the nest, fill the nest with loose soil so that it is flush with the ground. Place a standard marker flag next to each nest.
Finishing up
Before you leave, go to each corner of the site and take a photo. We need to come back in three weeks and relocate the nests, but you will be collecting the marker flags before we go, hence finding nests can be very difficult. By taking photos with the colourful marker flags in place, you can print out the photos and use them to find nests in three weeks. We recommend trying to ensure each photo includes most of the markers in the frame and try and include the top of the wooden stake that you are standing next to in the photo. It helps give it a reference point for nest relocation in three weeks. Printing the photo on A3 works the best, but iPads can be effective as they allow you to zoom in when guiding people to find nests. Don't forget to take out the marker flags before you leave the site. Also remember to turn on your camera.
Returning to Collect Data
While natural turtle nests are underground for 2-12 months, most predation occurs within the first few weeks of nesting. We recommend returning to your sites in 3 weeks to collect data. This requires two people. The first person will stand at each wooden stake with the relevant photo and guide the 2nd person to each nest. If the nest has been dug up, egg shells and a hole will be present and easy to find. If it has not been dug up, it may require some time and effort to find. Find each nest and record how many nests have been destroyed. Remove or destroy any remaining eggs within intact nests. Once you are done, collect your wooden stakes and camera and don't forget to write down how many nests have been destroyed by foxes.
Now you need to look through the SD card on the camera. You need you to identify every day that a fox was observed on camera. We don't need to record every time that you see a fox- just record the number of days that you see a fox on camera. For example, if a fox is observed 6 times in one night, it still gets recorded as a "1", similarly if a fox is observed once over a 24h period it also gets a "1". If no fox is observed over a 24h period, then it is given a "0". Tally the number of "1s" and that will be recorded into the online survey. You also need to record the number of nights that the camera was out there.
Don't worry if you don't have a camera, it won't stop you taking part in the National Nest Predation Survey.
DATA CHECK
1) Number of nests destroyed
2) Number of nights that the cameras were deployed
3) Number of day/nights that at least one fox was observed on camera
4) Date that you started the experiment
5) Location: You can tap on the TurtleSAT map.
Entering Your Data
You now have all the data required to enter into TurtleSAT (TurtleSAT.org.au or use the app).
We will regularly keep you updated via 1MillionTurtles.com and create National Nest Predation Survey real-time map in due course.
Please download and read the scientific article at the bottom of the page. It is about turtle nest predation and why long term data like this is are very important for managing turtles.
Important
The survey is to take place on private property. You are required to conduct an appropriate risk assessment for the site. Please access and update a risk assessment here. Although foxes are considered pests, intervention by people should NOT be undertaken.
Information for Management Agencies: Management agencies can take part in the survey on land that they manage by having all participants completing this training module. A signed letter of approval allowing the survey to be conducted at the site must also be uploaded. All volunteers must demonstrate that they have completed this training module before commencing the survey. Volunteers/participants that you engage with may also be subject to your additional risk assessments/training approval processes.
As part of the Animal Care and Ethics Permit, you are required to complete a quiz based on the information on this page.
Checks before completing the quiz
1) A completed risk assessment (Word or PDF)
2) Management Agencies only: A letter of approval to conduct the survey on land that you manage.
3) Please read/watch all sections of this training page.
You can conduct the quiz as many times until you get all questions correct. A digital certificate will be emailed to you.
Additional Tips
TIP 1: Don’t dig the holes for nests when it is raining, or after big rains. The nests tend to get soggy and don’t work well.
TIP 2: Don’t dig the holes for nests in cattle paddocks (but sheep are ok). Cows tend to knock down the remote cameras (if you are using them), and also trample the nests.
TIP 3: Don’t dig the holes for nests in places with tall grass if you can avoid it. Then the nests become really hard to find and the grass waving in the wind will set off the remote camera (if you are using one).
TIP 4: While remote cameras and star pickets are optional, the orange marker flags are absolutely necessary.
Setup - Visuals
