NORTH MYRTLE BEACH SEA TURTLE PATROL: June 2017 Nests

After a record 4 nests by the end of May, June started off slow but activity picked up fast,
First crawl, a false crawl was found on June 4th at 15th Ave N. June 5th, Another crawl and this time a nest was found. Middle of the beach at 10th Ave N. The eggs were moved from the middle of this busy beach, directly back to the dunes. NMB Nest #5

The hatchlings emerged at the end of July.......over 3 days, stormy time, some may have emerged on day 54, evidence and tracks of a secondary emergence on day 57.

114 eggs, 113 relocated

Hatchlings dribbled out for 3 days starting on July 29

107 hatched eggs, 6 unhatched or whole eggs

17 hatchlings found at bottom of egg chamber, released on beach

6 dead hatchlings

95% hatch success rate

NMB Nest #6 followed a day later, June 6 located at 62nd Ave N. Turtle crawled up this flat beach, tried to dig, abandoned the hole, crawled a little way further and nested. Very indistinct body pit, this was first thought to be a false crawl. Because the eggs were found in front of two busy, well lit high rise condo complexes, the eggs were moved to 50th Ave N, a much quieter section of the beach.

This nest was later vandalized during High School Senior week, all ropes, poles and signs were removed and talen away by unknown pranksters. Fortunaletly the cage and egg chamber was not disturbed. While funny to those with noth better to do, it is a costly prank to a no-profit NMB STP.

Hatchlings emerged between 2 and AM, 61 days later.

Two live hatchlings at bottom of egg chamber, released on the beach

133 eggs, 132 relocated to 50th Ave N

Hatchlings emerged on Aug 6

122 hatched eggs, 10 whole eggs, 2 live hatchlings

92.4% hatch success rate

NMB Nest #7, Flag Day, June 14.....Although the nest was located at the base of the dunes, it was decided to relocate it just a short distance to the North. Still between 9th Ave N and 10th Ave N. This original nest was very shallow, eggs close to the top, one egg had already been destroyed by a ghost crab who had a huge hole just behind the nest and the egg chamber was at the end of a private walkway. 128 eggs. NMB Nest #7

.SURPRISE, lots of tracks headed to the ocean. A major emergence, not sure when but had to be in the middle of the night.

Great Inventory, 6 live hatchlings found at bottom of nest, released on the beach.

129 eggsm 128 relocated

116 hatched eggs, 12 unhatched, 6 live hatchlings, 1 dead hatchling

90.6% hatch success rate

NMB Nest 8, called came in around 11:30PM.......nesting turtle on the beach....What do we do? Asked that all flashlights and phones be put away, all move back behind the turtle and watch quietly. A crowd was quickly gathering. A very responsible girl gave me the precise location, 8th Ave N in front of the house with the two flags. Called STP Volunteer Donna who lives close to this area and told her what was going on. She immediately went down and gained control of the situation so this turtle would continue to nest. It took me longer, coming down from Cherry Grove, groups of recent high school grads all over, police every couple of blocks, etc.

Back down early this morning to process the nest. Most of the track was erased by the people watching her. But we did see where the turtle had to skirt around a large hole just above the HTL, at the berm that had formed around the HTL.