Turtles on Runway delay JFK Flights

Turtles on runway delay flights at JFKBy Joy Jernigan, senior travel editor
Flights were temporarily halted at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport on Wednesday morning after about 150 turtles ambled onto a runway.

JetBlue first tweeted news of the slowdown: "JFK is experiencing delays as the airport clears turtles off the runway."

Port Authority spokesman Ron Marsico said flights were delayed only about 15 minutes.

“We had about 150 turtles coming out of the bay this morning," said Marsico. "They crossed the runway to a sandy beach area to lay their eggs."

The diamondback terrapin turtles were gathered on runway 4L, plus nearby taxiways, starting at about 6:45 a.m., NBC affiliate WNBC-TV in New York reports.

The turtle migration occurs annually at the airport, which is located near Jamaica Bay. The turtles typically head out of the bay to nest on the beach each summer. Marisco added that "staff has been out there since quarter to 7 this morning relocating them.”

Allison Steinberg, a JetBlue spokeswoman, said the airline saw no significant delays. "All traffic was moved onto a different departure runway and we are seeing very little impact now.

http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_ne...-jfk?GT1=43001

CNN Article

Mating turtles shut down runway at JFK
(CNN) -- Love is in the air at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. More than 150 turtles crossed over an active runway and disrupted air traffic on Wednesday so that they could continue their mating season.

The diamondback terrapins were trying to get to an ideal location to lay their eggs. That's a sandy area that happens to be across Runway 4, according to Carol Bannerman of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The turtles were primarily female, and the fertilization of their eggs occurs in the water, she said.

JFK is surrounded by a bay and wetland areas.

The first turtle was spotted at 6:45 a.m. and a short time afterward, Port Authority staff was dispatched and the U.S. Department of Agriculture assisted, according to Port Authority spokesman Ron Marsico.

"This happens every year," Marsico said. "I guess some years there is more turtle activity."

After a turtle was spotted, it was picked up and moved to a better destination to continue nesting, Bannerman said.

People began tweeting about the turtles soon after the news broke. Within 8 hours, @JFKTurtles had almost 3,000 followers on Twitter, even from airline accounts like Jet Blue who had this to say:

"Oh @JFKTurtles, we could never stay mad at you ... Glad you made it to your honey moon spot safe."

It is unclear how many flights were delayed by the breeding turtles, but the FAA should know by the end of the day, according to FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac. This runway is used infrequently during the summer because of weather conditions, Salac said.

This is not the first time turtles have invaded the runways at JFK. Seventy-eight turtles emerged one day in 2009, according to Marsico.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/06/29...html?hpt=hp_t2

Photo: The diamondback terrapin tries to find to an ideal location to lay her eggs at John F. Kennedy International Airpot in New York