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Turtles crossing runway cause New York flight delays

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)