By John Hanson
Armed with survey forms, binoculars, and waterproof boots, I prepared for my inaugural participation in the Diamondback Terrapin Survey on Tuesday, May 25, at 2 p.m. However, Mother Nature had other ideas. With overcast skies and 16 mph winds recorded at the Indian River Station, I had to postpone my first survey attempt. This early setback taught me that conducting these wildlife counts wouldn’t always go according to schedule during the designated three-week window.
At each survey location, I used my binoculars to scan the water systematically from left to right, searching for small terrapin heads poking above the surface. When winds picked up, spotting them became much more challenging among the choppy waves. But once I located one, there was no mistaking what I was observing: a small reptile head connected to a distinctively shaped body that often remained hidden beneath the dark water. Watching them swim in their natural environment was truly thrilling. I repeated this scanning process three times with five-minute breaks between each sweep, documenting the number of terrapins observed each time. The complete process required 30-40 minutes per location before moving to the next site.
I originally registered for two survey locations near my Lewes home that offered easy access. The first site was positioned at a small beach area beyond the 17th tee at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. I would park, walk across the tee box to the far side, then head down to the shoreline. Remarkably, I never encountered golfers preparing to play through.
My second location was the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control boat ramp at the terminus of Mulberry Knoll Road off Route 24 in Rehoboth Beach. A dirt pathway brought me to the spot where Love Creek flows into Rehoboth Bay. My waterproof boots proved essential, as the route from the road to the survey point contained deep ruts and holes typically filled with standing water. This location became my favorite site, where I even rescued four horseshoe crabs that had become trapped in roadside puddles following a storm and high tide. I also discovered two young painted turtles attempting to cross the gravel road en route to the site and safely moved them out of harm’s way.
During the survey period, I exchanged the Rehoboth Country Club location for a site at Pot Nets Community Beach to help gather data from that area. I completed several surveys directly from the beach, even with swimmers in the water nearby. The terrapins I observed appeared completely unbothered by the human activity and splashing around them.
Beyond my role as a volunteer in the Center’s citizen science initiative, I’m also training to become a Delaware Master Naturalist. Through this training, I volunteered with the Center to gain comprehensive knowledge about the Delaware Inland Bays’ wildlife, vegetation, habitats, and ecological systems. I previously contributed to the Center’s work by conducting fish surveys during one summer season. I’m thankful that the Center has agreed to sponsor my volunteer participation in the Delaware Master Naturalist training program.
With such a diverse array of citizen science volunteer opportunities available through the Center, selecting where to focus my efforts proved challenging. I developed an interest in learning about diamondback terrapins because my knowledge was so limited. My only familiarity with terrapins came from the University of Maryland – College Park, which uses the diamondback terrapin as its mascot. I also understood that this particular turtle gets its name from the distinctive diamond-shaped patterns on its shell. Since I planned to spend time searching for these animals, I decided I should learn more about them.
Through research using various online sources, including the Center’s publications, I discovered fascinating information about this aquatic species, including their unique preference for brackish water environments. I learned that diamondback terrapins mate actively during spring, after which females travel to deposit their eggs in sandy areas and dunes along shorelines of locations like the Inland Bays. This active breeding period provides the optimal time for observation and surveying, which is exactly what we accomplished through one of the Center’s newest research initiatives.
The Center’s knowledgeable Project Manager, Nivette Perez-Perez, conducted virtual training sessions to prepare us for the survey that ran for three weeks from May 25, 2021, through June 14, 2021. Surveys had to occur during daylight under very specific meteorological conditions: air temperature above 50 degrees, cloud coverage below 50 percent, and wind speeds under 8 mph – ideal summer weather for terrapin basking behavior. The project involved volunteers like myself counting basking turtles from 21 different land-based and water-based locations using kayaks. To monitor daily weather conditions, we utilized the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) operated by the University of Delaware. DEOS serves as an excellent public resource that provides weather data from multiple monitoring stations statewide and is accessible to anyone online.
Beyond weather limitations, all surveys needed to be completed within two hours of daily low tide because this timing offered the best opportunity to observe terrapins near the shoreline. I selected two land-based survey locations: at Rehoboth Country Club and lower Love Creek, both situated in Rehoboth Bay and closest to my residence. Later, I added a third survey site at the Pot Nets Community, also on Rehoboth Bay.
With numerous volunteers participating in this effort, coordination was essential. Bill MacLachlan, a fellow Delaware Master Naturalist trainee, generously volunteered to keep everyone organized and focused. He shared crucial information daily, including general weather updates, and provided ongoing encouragement to all participants. He performed exceptionally well in this role.
Overall, volunteers completed more than 100 surveys and identified over 1,100 diamondback terrapins. Using this data, the Center can begin developing a clearer understanding of whether populations are growing, declining, or remaining steady.
At the University of Maryland – College Park, they say “Fear the Turtle.” However, terrapins deserve no fear. They are peaceful creatures that merit respect, protection, and conservation. The Center works toward these goals through various programs, including initiatives to prevent nesting females from crossing busy Coastal Highway to lay eggs through fencing projects and terrapin garden nesting areas constructed with volunteer assistance. I strongly encourage anyone who enjoys outdoor activities, volunteering for a dedicated and effective organization, and wants to contribute to protecting our natural environment to seriously consider volunteering with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. If you do, you’ll discover an entirely new world filled with exciting adventures. Learn more and register today at inlandbays.org/volunteer.
