JFK flights delayed because of sex-starved turtles

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

JFK flights delayed because of sex-starved turtles crossing runway to get to breeding grounds

A pack of sex-starved turtles shut down a Kennedy Airport runway Wednesday by crossing the tarmac to get to their seasonal breeding grounds.

"JFK is experiencing delays as the airport clears turtles off the runway," JetBlue Airways wrote on its Twitter feed around 9:40 a.m., adding the hashtag "cantmakethisup."

Airport workers helped clear runway 4L of the slow-moving diamondback terrapins who were headed to their natural breeding grounds in Jamaica Bay.

JetBlue justified the delay by noting, "Running over turtles is not healthy for them, nor is it good for our tires."

Federal Aviation Administration Arlene Salac said it is required to shut a runway if "there is any kind of object or debris on it."

"Crews were called in to help speed things along," she said. "It didn't have a significant impact on operations."

Within hours of the episode, someone created a "JFK Turtles" Twitter feed that quickly amassed thousands of followers.

"The Port Authority can't contain us. Watch out La Guardia," the turtles tweeted.

It's not the first time the mating ritual has held up traffic at the airport.

In July 2009, some flights were delayed for up to 90 minutes as crews cleared a runway of 78 turtles.

The reptilian renegades are not the only wildlife to cause headaches at the city's airports.

Flocks of geese have damaged incoming and outgoing planes - most notoriously causing the "Miracle on the Hudson" crash of US Airways Flight 1549 in January 2009.

The episode led to campaigns to cull geese living around JFK and LaGuardia.

Read more: JFK flights delayed because of sex-starved turtles crossing runway to get to breeding grounds

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

"Running over turtles is not healthy for them, nor is it good for our tires."

and of course:

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

That's so romantic.

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

I have tuned into ATC at JFK in the past.

ATC actually did in fact warn the incoming and outbound traffic of turtles crossing the runway.

At first I thought I was hearing something wrong. But it was indeed the truth.

The turtles have been there for thousands of years.

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

liveatc.net

You need to register to listen to the interesting atc recordings. For the JFK turtles the controllers can be heard giggling about the turtles.

LiveATC Recordings | LiveATC.net

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Is this a joke? I tought it was at first.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Ella Fitzgerald - Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love - a Cole Porter classic

Birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

In Spain, the best upper sets do it

Lithuanians and Letts do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it
Not to mention the Fins
Folks in Siam do it - think of Siamese twins

Some Argentines, without means, do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

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Oysters down in oyster bay do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

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Even lazy jellyfish, do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

Electric eels I might add do it
Though it shocks em I know
Why ask if shad do it - Waiter bring me
"shad roe"

In shallow shoals English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love