Inventory Briarcliffe Nest#3

Braircliffe Nest #3 was located by Claire and Bob on July 9th.  Hatchlings emerged on Saturday night, August 31st, day 53.

 

Straight out of nest chamber and to the sea

 

4 days later, time to inventory,  Larry shows with lines how close the hatchling tracks were when emerging and going to the ocean.  Ghost crab has discovered the empty eggs

 

 

Two hatchlings are found deep in the egg chamber, under egg shells.  Very active, ready to go

 

All shells removed, one last sweep of the empty hole, another hatchling is found along the side, half buried in sand



Time to release these guys

 

Quickly named Mickey, Minnie and Donald

 

The race is on

 

Checking on Donald,  he is going to the water

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory Results:

 

Nest was laid on July 9,  108 eggs, 107 moved back above the HTL, one egg taken for DNA study

 

Major emergence on Saturday, August 31st.  More hatchlings dribbled out over the next two nights

 

103 Hatched eggs, 4 unhatched, all died early development

 

3 live hatchlings, active, released on the beach, 0 dead hatchlings

 

96.26% hatching success rate

 

Great Job Briarcliffe.

 

Thanks for all the hard work..  Thank you Larry for sharing your pictures