Turtlesinger, Inc.


is a Federal 501(c)3 Public Charity - New Jersey Charities Registration # CH2998200
Mission Statement: To educate and entertain the public about turtles with original songs and/or live turtles.



March 22, 2021



Turtle Meditation





Turtles like this Northern Red-Bellied turtle look so serene when they sunbathe. Like the Turtlesinger song goes, “turtles know how to just: be.”


This one is perfectly reflected in the water for World Water Day.


This and the previous red-belly photo was taken at Cape May County Park North's Richard M. Cameron Wildlife Sanctuary in Palermo, New Jersey, where many red-bellied turtles can be found sunning in April in the morning sun.


For another red-bellied turtle in another part of Cape May County, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



Sun Worshipping





Red-bellied turtles are the largest basking turtle in New Jersey—besides the snapping turtle, of course, which is seen basking far less frequently than red-bellied turtles.


Red-bellied turtle shells can easily reach 12 inches! They are often mistaken for painted turtles and can often be seen basking together, but painted turtle shells only reach ½ that length.


This photo was taken at the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management area in Villas, New Jersey in September.


For a shot at the same location of the previously mentioned painted turtle, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



Life in the Sun





The beautiful painted turtle is the most common basking turtle in New Jersey.


We love being able to show you this one surveying his watery domain on World Water Day.


This painted turtle photo was taken in May at the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management area in Villas, New Jersey.


For a shot of both red-bellied turtles and at least one painted turtle basking together in a completely different area of Cape May County, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



How Many Turtles Do You See?





We counted 16 red-bellied turtles and 1 painted turtle in this photo!


The painted turtle is the one half the size of the other turtles.


This April photo in honor of World Water Day was taken at Hands Mill Pond near Belleplain, New Jersey from Route 347.


For a completely different turtle utilizing water on World Water Day, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



Puddles Matter





Box turtles like this one utilize water puddles after rain. They can be a welcome source of water after hibernation.


Box turtles like to soak in water at the edge of ponds, too.


Other non-water turtles like gopher tortoises in Florida at the Barefoot Park Preserve gather around water puddles in the parking lot to drink after it rains.


This photo was taken from Hand Avenue in May on World Turtle Day in Cape May Court House, New Jersey—and on World Water Day, we like reminding you of how many ways turtles utilize water. So: watch out for those puddles—they may contain turtles!


For another way water turtles use water, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



Watery Courting Grounds





In this May photo, 2 red-eared sliders are engaged in a watery courtship at a Cape May County Zoo outdoor pond in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.


The smaller turtle is the male, and he uses his long fingernails to flutter them in front of the larger female to arouse her interest.


Red-eared sliders are named for the red “ear” behind their eye.


For a completely different water turtle in a different pond, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



Turtle Nursery





This pond serves as a turtle nursery for a very young snapping turtle peeking up between the lily pads.


This July photo was taken at the former Leamings Run Gardens in Swainton, New Jersey.


We’ve been lucky to see snapping turtles there in all stages: hatchlings emerging from eggs, juvenile, semi-adults and adults.


For probably the biggest snapping turtle we ever saw, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



King of the Pond





This photo of a huge snapping turtle surveying its watery kingdom was also taken on the first very warm day that Spring.


Notice this behemoth is using a large red-bellied turtle as a pillow!


This photo was taken from quite a distance—again reinforcing just how big it was. We felt so lucky to get its picture and have looked for it again ever since, but never saw it again.


We did see a juvenile snapping turtle there once, though. This photo was taken in a “turtle heaven” in Seaville, New Jersey.


Finally, for some video of a completely different kind of water turtle enjoying the water, SCROLL DOWN…



March 22, 2021



Scooting, Sitting, Scaling, Sunning and Sliding





You can watch diamondback terrapins doing all these things while enjoying their brackish water environments in this video!


These terrapins were videoed at both the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway Township and at Reed’s Beach, New Jersey.


Thanks so much as always for reading, watching, and helping us remember turtles on World Water Day!





Contact Us:



turtlesinger@hotmail.com | Phone: (609) 205-9248