Information provided by the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo

Balloons Can Kill! Don't Trash The Ocean

Helium-filled balloons released in Bermuda are almost certain to land in the ocean. In the ocean, balloons can look like jellyfish, which are a staple food of sea turtles. Pieces of balloon can choke a turtle and are indigestible, causing blockages of the intestines and eventually death.

Marine animals which have been found dead or dying with pieces of balloon in their digestive systems include whales, dolphins, turtles, seabirds and bluefin tuna. They mistake the balloons for squid, jellyfish and other foods. Remember: releasing helium balloons in Bermuda is an offence under the Waste and Litter Control Act.

Think about environmentally friendly ways to mark celebrations and events. Use environmentally friendly alternatives to balloons such as banners, flags and paper streamers. Join the campaign to make Bermuda a balloon free island by contacting the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo or Keep Bermuda Beautiful.

Turtle Alert

In the last few years, the number of sea turtles killed through boat collisions has increased. Sea turtles must come to the surface to breath every few minutes. This is when most collisions occur.

As a reminder to all boaters to watch carefully for sea turtles, signs are being placed at locations around the island where the turtles are most commonly found (see example). Remember, if you slow down when travelling in these areas you may well be rewarded with a close-up look at one of these beautiful creatures.

To prevent accidents and protect these endangered animals, all boaters are encouraged to drive with extra care in the areas where turtles live. The “Aquarium Map” shown here should help you identify these areas.

Green Sea Turtles, the most common turtles in Bermuda waters, feed on turtle grass. Turtle grass is found along much of the northern and western shores of the island, where it extends out about 300 meters from the shoreline (see map). Where possible, you are urged to travel outside these areas to avoid disturbing the turtles. And as turtle grass is also an important nursery area for many reef fish you are asked to avoid dropping anchor in turtle grass. Find a nearby sand hole instead.

Skink Alert

The Bermuda Skink, or Rock Lizard, which is found only in Bermuda, was once a common sight all over the island. Today they are so rare that many people have never seen one. If we do not act to protect the skink, it may become extinct.

Skinks look very different from Bermuda’s other three lizards primarily as they have scales. Young skinks are light brown with a broad black stripe running up the side of their body. Juveniles have a brilliant blue tail. Older animals are a more uniform dark brown with an orange throat. Skinks also have claws rather than friction pads on their feet so they cannot climb slippery surfaces.

Skinks have lost much of their prime habitat to development. They are also eaten by cats, rats and some birds. And because they don’t have friction pads on their feet, they can’t climb out of discarded bottles and soda cans, so they die.

What can you do to help?

• Don’t litter. Skinks climb into discarded bottles and cans but can’t climb out
• Help exterminate rats – they eat skinks
• Help control the feral cat population – have your cat neutered
• Encourage children to protect their environment

It is also important to help the island’s scientists track the skink population. If you see a skink, please DO NOT disturb it, but DO report its location to the Aquarium at 293-2727, ext 139.

Sea Horses

The Fascinating Fish
While we know that sea horses have horse-like heads, tough exoskeletons, prehensile tails, independently moving eyes and marsupial-like pouches for carrying young, they remain a scientific mystery. Snorkelers will find sea horses in Bermuda waters in and around sea grass beds, boat moorings, docks, rocky shoreline, and near reefs up to 60 feet below the ocean’s surface. Three species have been recorded here.

Sadly, sea horses are classified as “vulnerable” on the World Conservation List of Threatened Animals. This is due primarily to the fact that sea horses are fished and dried for sale in gift shops and use in traditional medicines. Other major threats are sale to aquariums and pet shops, and habitat destruction.

A conservation research project is underway at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo in co-operation with the international “Project Sea Horse”. The goal is to learn more about and to protect this unique, fragile fish. Snorkelers can help by calling LeeAnn Hinton at BAMZ, 293-2727, ext. 127, to report sea horse sightings. Observations only, please, do not disturb our precious sea horses!

Monarch Butterflies

Sovereign of the Skies
Bermuda’s Monarch butterflies are an unusual non-migrating variety. Our mild climate allows them to breed year round. On a warm, sunny day you might see them flying about at one of the Island’s nature reserves such as Spittal Pond or on the grounds of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo.

Monarchs are attracted to milkweed plants –both to drink the nectar and to lay their eggs on the leaves. Milkweed plants grow wild only in pastures, and as Bermuda’s pasture land has disappeared under new houses and roads, the butterfly population has declined accordingly.

A Monarch conservation programme to promote the growing of milkweed as an ornamental plant was initiated in 1998.

The Cahow

Bermuda’s Rare Bird
Cahows, named by the early settlers in imitation of the bird’s call, come to land only to breed. Pterodroma cahow is endemic to Bermuda, which means that it breeds only in Bermuda.

A winter breeder, the cahow returns to begin its courtship activities in late October and, like most petrels, it is nocturnal on the breeding grounds. A single white egg is laid in January. Emerging in early March, the chick is covered in dense grey down. The young chick’s departure takes place in late May or early June, and it is five to eight years before the bird returns to land again to find a nesting site to begin breeding.

Originally the cahow nested in soil burrows, which the birds excavated throughout the main island. Over-harvesting for food, clearing of land and the devastating impact of introduced cats, rats and pigs rapidly caused the cahow population to crash. Only nine years after the colonization of Bermuda, the species was thought to be extinct. The cahow was finally rediscovered on tiny offshore islets in 1951. Today through active conservation, approximately 35 breeding pairs survive to rear single chicks.