Meet the North Atlantic Right Whale on today's episode. Tybee Marine Science Center Educator Lindsay McGuire is back on the podcast to teach us all the "RIGHT Whale" details.

DID YOU KNOW? Georgia’s state marine mammal, the North Atlantic right whale, the most endangered large whale species on Earth.

In late November and early December, North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), ready to calve, migrate from the cold waters of New England and Nova Scotia to the warmer Atlantic coast off Georgia and Florida. This region is the only known breeding ground for the species, where they give birth and nurture their young.

The existence of the North Atlantic right whale is perilous, with the primary causes of mortality being human-related activities such as collisions with vessels and entanglement in fishing gear.

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Learn more about the Right Whale

See the unveiling of the Right Whale Exhibit

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Allie Hayser is a Shorebird Biologist and an Educator for Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative. Allie grew up on Tybee Island, Georgia. She joined Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative to support and expand ongoing shorebird programs in outreach, education, and conservation. She is focused on projects that work to manage disturbance of migrating shorebirds, understanding horseshoe crab populations, education for ecotourism, and developing stewardship programs.

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Meet Allie Hayser

Learn more about Manomet Conservation Sciences

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What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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We're getting out of our comfort zones and we're getting our hands INTO the TOUCH TANK! We're inside Tybee Island Marine Science Center for this episode with Executive Director Chantal Audran and Ocean Advocate Hero Liddy Clever.

Today we are touching and holding AND learning about Echinoderms. FACT ATTACK: Echinoderms are a group of animals that include starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, sea lilies and feather stars. Echinoderms are characterized by their distinctive, five-point radial symmetry, unique water vascular system, tube feet, and the ability to regenerate lost body parts.

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Meet Liddy Clever

Listen to Liddy's Podcast "Save Sea Life"

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What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Today we're learning everything we can about HORSESHOE CRABS! Horseshoe crabs have been around for more than 300 million years, making them even older than dinosaurs. They look like prehistoric crabs but are actually more closely related to scorpions and spiders.

Tybee Island Marine Science Center Educator Frank Wooldridge is with us on this episode to talk about these living fossils.

Some interesting facts you'll hear in this episode: The body of a horseshoe crab is divided into three parts: the prosoma, opisthosoma and telson, or tail. The prosoma is the front, semicircular part and the opisthosoma, which protects the gills, is attached to the prosoma with a hinge. The top of the shell has ridges and spines. Seven pairs of leg-like appendages are found under the shell.

Horseshoe crabs have contributed to the medical research community. A substance in their blood called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate is used to test for bacterial endotoxins in pharmaceuticals and for several bacterial diseases.

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What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Welcome to the Season 2 kick-off of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast!

Welcome to our TURTLE TALKS! Today, we're learning everything we can about the fascinating Loggerhead Turtle. Worldwide there are seven species of turtles, and what's really cool is .... we see FIVE of those species on the Georgia coast.

Tybee Marine Science Educator Lindsay McGuire is teaching us all about the Loggerhead turtle's size, diet, anatomy, and of course the OH-SO-IMPORTANT nesting season. We'll also talk about light pollution and the "lost years" for Loggerheads.

Do you know what sea turtle tracks look like? Did you know one sea turtle Mom will lay about 75-125 eggs? Did you know that turtles are not able to see certain colors? Lindsay explains which colors turtles can and cannot see, and why it's so important to follow light pollution regulations.

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What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Take a deep dive with us on this episode recorded on location at Tybee Island Marine Science Center. We're talking about the biggest pillars here at the Science Center - Education and Conservation. Program Director Allison Williford Caldwell is back to teach us all about two programs - Bird Rescue and Marine Mammal Stranding.

The team works closely with area veterinarians during bird rescue to assess and properly rehab injured birds. Alli also talks about the coastal birds you might spot in this region.

When it comes to Marine Mammal Stranding - you'll learn about some of the work the Tybee Marine Science Center team does in the field with photo-identification with dolphins after a mass-stranding. And hold on tight for the tidal swings in Coastal Georgia. Because we have such a big swing in tides, most marine mammals in this region have adapted their routines.

Learn more about the voices in this episode:

Follow Tybee Marine Science on Instagram

What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media

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Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Partnership and Donation Opportunities

As we continue to talk about the conservation and education programs at Tybee Island Marine Science Center, today we focus on the Sea Turtle Project and Diamondback Terrapin Rescue and Release. Sarah Alley, who is part of the Curator Team at the Science Center, is here to educate us on Sea Turtle nesting season on Tybee Island. She also talks about how the population and tourist factors play a big part in the season. It's a team effort for sure with many team members and volunteers.

When it comes to the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue and Release program, Sarah explains how the marshes throughout Coastal Georgia provide a great ecosystem for the Terrapins to live. When you stop in to visit the Science Center you can meet Ruby and Pearl, the resident Terrapins, who are there to educate. You'll hear about the importance of the Hatchling Headstart Program as well as the biggest threats for this magnificent species.

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Sarah Alley on Instagram

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Learn about Diamondback Terrapin

Learn about Sea Turtles

Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Volunteer at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Partnership and Donation Opportunities

Settle in for a powerful one-on-one conversation with Executive Director Chantal Audran from Tybee Island Marine Science Center about the true heartbeat of the work they do with Education and Conservation. You will hear about the work that goes on in the field every day at the Science Center - including what happens during rescue missions. Chantal says, "feeling that connection to the organisms we are protecting is so important, not only for the growth of the scientists and marine educators but also for the species we are trying to understand and preserve".

Yes, the team is educating thousands of people who step into Tybee Island Marine Science Center - but it's really the conservation projects, the unseen work that they do, that they are so passionate about.

There are four main conservation projects at the Science Center, all of which involve a species of concern - an animal that needs help from helpful humans.

Warning: you will get bit by the passion bug after listening to this episode!

Conservation Projects to Learn About:

The Sea Turtle Project & The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Sea Bird, Shore Bird Rescue

Marine Mammal Stranding

Diamondback Terrapin Rescue

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Support Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media