The Northern and Yorke region is now home to South Australia's first turtle platform installs, part of the new TURTLE project (Together Understanding and Recovering Turtles in our Landscapes and Ecosystems).

Two types of islands are now in the water, each doing a different job. The Biohaven (nesting) Island gives turtles a fox-free spot to lay their eggs. The Basking Islands give them somewhere safe to climb out, dry off, and warm up in the sun.

Eastern long-necked females lay 10-12 eggs per nest, with peak nesting from November through January. Foxes and cats can destroy up to 95% of those nests. A May install gives the Biohaven's vegetation time to take root before peak nesting season.

Led by our Planning Officer, Jennifer Munro, the work has brought together Barossa TAFE students, wine industry staff, Mid North primary school students, landholders and councils. Professors, Ricky Spencer and Mike Thompson, were out in the field with us as part of the national 1 Million Turtles Community Conservation Program.

The project is more than just habitat. Observations from the project will contribute to state and national databases, helping us understand the health of permanent pools and dams across the region. TURTLE is a state-wide effort with the Murraylands and Riverland and Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Boards, running through to 2027.

The TURTLE project is funded by the SA Government's Landscape Priorities Fund.

This article was originally published in the Northen and Yorke Landscape Board's Yakka eNews and was published here with permission.

This article was originally published in the Northen and Yorke Landscape Board's Yakka eNews and was published here with permission.