The beginning of June (in normal years; mid-May this time around the sun) times the arrival of hummingbirds from above and gravid turtles from below.  On just one house lot not quite neighboring the pond, an average of 12~15 snapping and eastern painted turtles lay, mainly during a two-week period. (Layovers in smaller satellite and garden ponds allow the expectant mothers to delay laying for up to a few weeks.)

Bleached duckweed

Seeking friable or sandy soil and good southern exposure, most seem to survive difficult trek through rough woodland, up steep banks and past other obstructions, with predator attack or automobile accident claiming a few.

The majority of these nests do not survive their first night, scent cues of turtle and disturbed earth attracting ovivores within hours of most nestings. By the end of the first week, hundreds of leathery remains signal good fortune for skunks, raccoons and perhaps others (see p.27).

A sad day for chelydra-kind

However, just enough evade detection to maintain (apparently) stable populations. Hatching occurs throughout the autumn, occasionally on a warm day in winter, and is sometimes delayed until the following spring.

New-born snapping turtle, yolk all et up

Hatchlings are easy prey for all sorts of land animals, bullfrogs and birds. If adults can take several hours to trek up from the pond, the journey back for a toddler that cannot clamber over rocks and branches must be heroic indeed.

Then, after a few years on a diet of worms and leeches and ducks, half (depending on incubation temperature) may return to continue the cycle.

First sight of the promised land – er, water