On Sunday, my husband and I joined other nature walkers at Newman Wetlands Center, a wildlife sanctuary registered with the Atlanta Audubon Society. The turtles swam over from the log on which they were sunning and requested food. When we offered only the pleasure of our company, they scowled at us, unimpressed. Next time, we will bring turtle food and cede to their demands like well-mannered guests who bring wine to a dinner party. We spotted Big Boy after being introduced. He wore a shell the size of a dinner plate and studied us back for a moment blinking lazily. A squadron of dragonflies escorted us around the boardwalk in order to report our positions and activities to fellow wetland inhabitants. We suspect such militant observation was merely a cautionary measure as we at no time felt threatened. Still, they darted nervously, so I showed them my book to pacify them.