Official start of Spring

[smokeyoshi]

On Friday, the first full day of spring, Momma and Sheldon, the yellow belly slider turtles that live in our pond, returned from wherever they go in winter. We haven't seen them since about a week after Thanksgiving, making it the longest winter absence since we've been here. Last winter was pretty mild, and even though she didn't come in to be fed every day, she was there, almost every day. They were getting fed around dusk, but we both work most nights no so we'll have to switch to mornings. We were so worried she was a goner.
Momma in front, Sheldon tagging along. We firgure they're a couple, right down to the fighting, lol.

[huronna]

Now that is interesting, thanks for the story

[smokeyoshi]

Tillie showed up today, and Jordy, a male softshell stopped by on Tuesday. This is Tillie. She ate from our hands, and we don't remember her doing that last year.


Tillie between Momma (big muddy shell) and Sheldon

[huronna]

WOW , that one sure has a very loooong neck

[smokeyoshi]

That's actually Itsy Bitsy, not Tillie. Yeah, softshells seem to have a neck as long as their shells. It's really cool to watch them extend and retract. I's like to see an animation of what goes on inside the shell when they do.