Painted Turtle Laying Eggs

While in Monroe, NY working with the Sapphire Elementary School I observed this Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) laying eggs. It was already well into the act when I found it on the lawn next to a Dunkin Doughnuts parking lot. I observed it digging her nest for about 15 to 20 minutes before she started laying eggs. She laid 7 eggs in about 10 minutes. I watched her burying the eggs for about 20 minutes before I had to leave.

A great reference for Painted Turtles is Thomas Tyning's book, A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles, in the Stokes Nature Guides series.