turtle swarm

[rm]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2009/07/fear-the-turtle-at-jfk.html

http://nycaviation.com/2009/07/08/jfk-runway-closed-due-to-turtles/

Comments

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

I suppose that bodes well for the biodiversity of Jamaica Bay (apparently the affected runway, 4L/22R, butts right onto the marshland), but sheesh, I wouldn't want to be a staffer either trying to herd those turtles or explaining to people what happened...

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

According to Wikipedia the collective term for turtles is either bevy, dule, turn, bale, or nest. I think I'd use something like a glacier of turtles (in the same vein as an unkindness of ravens).

The Univ. of Maryland's motto is, "Fear the Turtle". Our mascot is a pissed off box turtle, that is really rather cute in plushy format, especially the mobile for babies! ;-p

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

I always thought it was a murder of ravens. But I think "glacier of turtles" is amazingly apropros.

[wordweaverlynn.livejournal.com]

It's a murder of crows.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

D'oh! Brilliant!

[janinas-nest.livejournal.com]

It's a diamondback terrapin, the Maryland State Reptile [g]. Go Terps! Class of '75 and '91

[rezendi.livejournal.com]

Ha (http://www.rezendi.com/bony/2007/08/28-storm-shelter.html).

[wordweaverlynn.livejournal.com]

We're here. We're chelonian. And we're not going away.

[supergee.livejournal.com]

You think they're conspiring with the geese?

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

LOL.

Considering this Reuters article which identifies the turtles as diamondback terrapins, though, it may be the reverse - by driving away the birds, the turtles' natural predators have been cut back.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

I love turtles! Nobody ever expects anything from them, so they always have the element of surprise on their side.

Plus, they have the distinction of being the one reptile that practically nobody is afraid of.

[drfardook.livejournal.com]

And its not like you can shoo them away.

Well, you can but you have to possess the patience of a saint.

[miep.livejournal.com]

um, snapping turtles, anyone?

a friend watched one take out a whole family of ducklings. one. by. one.

[19-crows.livejournal.com]

Oh that is an excellent point! I love turtles too and have two red eared sliders.

[thornsilver]

A new horror movie coming to a Scyfy near you!

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

NO MORE SHALL AWKWARD TURTLE STAND IN THE CORNER WITH HANDS IN POCKETS WHILE THE COOL KIDS DANCE! NO MORE WILL AWKWARD TURTLE SUFFER THE SLINGS AND ARROWS OF UNSYMPATHETIC PEERS! TODAY, AWKWARD TURTLE SHALL BRING THE WORLD TO A GRINDING STAND-STILL!

FEAR THE WRATH OF AWKWARD TURTLE!

...

Too much?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Ever so slightly.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Poor awkward turtle. Even in revolution there is no glory.

(Incidentally, this is why fevers and Internets don't always mix.)

[cozzene.livejournal.com]

Turtle Power...

This user pic is what the diamond backs look like as babies...very cute.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Hah! Turtles for the win!

[19-crows.livejournal.com]

It's so frustrating that none of the news articles about this have had pictures.