Sea Turtle Cold-Stunning Event, North Padre Island, February 18-19, 2021
The largest sea turtle cold stunning event of recorded history happened in February of 2021. Tens of thousands of endangered sea turtles were stunned in the shallow waters of the lagunas, bays, and estuaries along the southern Texas coast. Hundred of local volunteers aided in rescue and recovery, looking for stunned sea turtles, transporting them to the NPS Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Center for evaluation, rushing them to rescue centers across the coastal bend, and providing their time devotion to the survival of these sea turtles. I participated in this event both as a hands on volunteer with the turtles, as well as a photographer. This event was the most shocking and heartbreaking I’ve ever documented, but the next few days I was privileged to document the rehabilitation of these sea turtles, and the next month, their release (below)
Read more about the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery here.
Read about cold stunning in general here.
Read more about this cold stunning event here.
Texas Sealife Center, North Padre Island, February 21, 2021
A couple of days after the cold stunning event, I was invited to take photographs at the Texas Sealife Center. The center operates with the help of the local community, from volunteer hours to donations. The center rehabilitates sea turtles, as well as a variety of other sea animals, aquatic birds, and animals of the island. They also perform public releases of animals that have been rehabilitated.
Read more about the Texas Sealife Center here.
Padre Island National Seashore, March 21, 2021
One month after the cold stunning event, the NPS Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery held a public release on the National Seashore. Most of the turtles stunned and released are Green Sea Turtles. The one in the green bucket, and that Dr. Donna Shaver is releasing at the end is a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle. The staff at the National Park Service is incredible, and I’m so proud to have been a part of this team!
Bike MS 150, Deception Pass Classic, Washington, USA
As a daughter of a mother with MS, it was an incredible honor to photograph the MS 150 Deception Pass Classic. I grew up participating in MS Walks with my family, watched my dad bike the MS 150 several times, and I have biked the MS 150 twice myself! If you didn’t know, it’s a party. The people who participate and volunteer are amazing, welcoming, and life giving. These are a selection of photos from race days one and two, rest stops, finishes, and the party that is rider village!