28/07/2026
Big day on Turtle Island. Our first turtle showed up!
Quick backstory for anyone who hasn't seen it: a few weeks back we anchored a floating wetland out on the water at Lake Grande, Andergrove Lakes. It's basically a big planted raft.
Native rushes and sedges on top, roots hanging underneath. The roots do a little bit of filtering, but at this size it's really about giving the local wildlife somewhere safe to rest and bask, away from the bank.
We stuck a camera on it to see if anything would actually use it. Short answer, yes. Three weeks in and it's been mostly ducks and moorhens, plus a cormorant that likes drying its wings on the edge and one very fluffy egret.
Today a turtle finally hauled itself up for a bask. Stayed most of the afternoon.
All the photos below are straight off the island camera. You can see who's visiting any time at mackayaquaticweedcontrol.com.au/turtlecam
