After our Riggle family fun in Port Mansfield, we (Travis, Chrissy, & Sierra) packed up and headed even farther south to South Padre Island. We crossed the causeway and headed straight for Sea Turtles, Inc, a non-profit rescue and rehabilitation center for sea turtles. They protect the nests and manage the release of newly hatched Kemp's Ridley sea turtles outside of the National Seashore. They also rescue and rehabilitate stranded sea turtles, some of which have become permanent residents at Turtles, Inc after being deemed "unreleasable". We had hoped to catch a release of hatchlings, but alas, the little guys and girls weren't interested in hatching that day. :( BUT, we're still keeping an eye on the nests at the National Seashore- maybe we'll still see the show this summer!
Sierra being greeted by Fred, a Loggerhead who lost a front flipper due to fishing line entanglement.
Visiting Allison, the Atlantic Green with only one flipper! She lost the other 3 in a predator attack, leaving her to swim in circles. Sea Turtles, Inc recently made history by creating a prosthetic flipper (really more of a rudder), allowing her to swim in a straight line. She was rudder-less while we were there, but you can see her gear on the Sea Turtles, Inc website.
Sierra doesn't want to be a turtle.
Of course, hotel beds are waaay more fun!
THEN, it was time for the beach!!! Yaaaayyy!!! :D (Mama was excited, can you tell??)
Unfortunately, Sierra was not amused.
In fact, she was downright terrified of the waves. (Sorry about the gratuitous, umm... me, in this picture. Just focus on the baby.)
We eventually convinced her the sand was fun. She mostly thought it was yummy. So she ended up with a pacifier in her mouth as a sand-blockade.
One last try in the waves... nope, still not a fan.
Family at the beach!
And for reference, she was gleefully splashing in the bathtub not 10 minutes later. :P
Papa playing with our new toy, the waterproof, beach-proof, freeze-proof (like that was needed) camera.
After a little baby sunburn on the beach (definitely her father's child), we hunted around for less sun-intensive adventures on the island. We checked out the UT Pan American Coastal Studies Lab and Exhibit. Nothing big or fancy, but they did have a bunch of aquariums/tanks to see smaller sea life that you don't typically see- HUGE hermit crab, seahorses, sea cucumbers, blowfish. It was an interesting display and was a cheap, air conditioned activity, so I do recommend checking it out! We also walked the boardwalks at the new Birding and Nature Center. All very nice and informative- just need more birds!
Reddish Egret (I think...)
Before we left the island, we stopped by to say "bye-bye" to the turtles. Bye Cora!!
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