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2011-06-30 12:40:19
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Why did the turtles cross the runway and tie up flights at
John F. Kennedy International Airport?
To get to the other side to lay eggs on the sandy shores of the Jamaica Bay
Wildlife Refuge, which borders the airport in New York City's borough of
Queens, authorities said.
Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,
which oversees operation of the region's airports, said about 150 diamondback
terrapin turtles were spotted on Wednesday morning crossing Runway 4L.
Pilots from Jet Blue and other airlines halted their big birds and let the
expectant reptiles pass, said Marsico.
"Flight delays attributed to turtles were minor, about 15 minutes or so," said
Marsico.
Port Authority staff rushed out to the tarmac where, between takeoffs and
landings, they scooped up the turtles and helped them on their way, he said.
Naturalists said the 185-acre Jamaica Bay may be the diamondback's most popular
breeding ground in North America.
"It happens every year at about this time. It's the great migration, and this
is the peak of the season," he said.
Flights were rerouted to another runway, as waves of turtles pressed on with
their march to the bay.
"At one point, we decided to heed Mother Nature and use other runways. This is
not impacting flights," Marsico said.
(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Greg McCune)