INVENTORY ON NMB NEST # 11

 THIS NEST WAS FOUND ON JUNE 16th, 134 EGGS WERE FOUND, ONE WAS USED FOR DNA STUDIES.  CANDAYCE, ADAM AND NANCY DICOVERED THIS NEST. THIS NEST INCUBATED FOR 55 DAYS. AFTER THE MAJOR EMERGENCE A COUPLE OF STRAGGLERS HAD MADE IT OUT OF THE NEST DOWN TO THE OCEAN TO START THIER JOURNING IN LIFE.  WE HOPE SOME OF THESE HATCHLINGS MAKE IT BACK TO THE BEACHES OF SC, THAT THEY WERE BORN ON, WHEN THEY MATURE IN 30-35 YEARS.

THE HOLE AND SOME OF THE HATCHLING TRACKS AFTER THE EMERGENCE

THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO COME AND LEARN ABOUT THE SEA TURTLE SPECIES, NESTING ON NORTH MYRTLE BEACH.  EVERY VOLUNTEER IS EAGER TO SHARE THIER PASSION WITH EVERYONE COMING TO SEE.  SOMETIMES A HATCHLING OR MORE MAY BE TRAPPED UNDER THE DEEP SAND AND WILL BE FOUND AND RELEASED DURING THE INVENTORY.

TWO HATCHLINGS WERE FOUND UNDER THE SAND AND ARE PUT INTO A BUCKET, ALL SPECTATORES WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE WHILE THE INVENTORY IS FINISHING, THEN THEY WILL BE RELEASED ON THE SAND, WHERE THEY WILL SWIM NON-STOP UNTIL THEY REACH THE SARGASSO SEA, (THIS IS A FLOATING BED OF SEAWEED). THIS IS WHERE IT IS THOUGH THAT THEY SPEND THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF THIER LIVES. 

ARLENE AND BARBARA ARE WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE INVENTORY RESULTS

BARBARA SHOWS ONE OF THE WHOLE EGGS, THEY ALSO LOOK AT THE HATCHED EGGS AND THE DEEP EGG CHAMBER.

ALL LINING UP TO FORM LINES TO ENSURE THE HATCHLINGS CAN MAKE IT TO THE OCEAN WITH NO INTERFERENCE, AND ALL CAN SEE THE INCREDIBLE HATCHLING MAKE IT TO THE OCEAN.

THESE PICTURES OF THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE HATCHLINGS ARE TAKEN BY NMB STP VOLUNTEER JULIE BOSTIAN AND ARE COPYRIGHTED.  THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS, JULIE.

THE INVENTORY RESULTS

94 % hatch rate success

135 eggs, 1 used for DNA studies

126 hatched eggs

8 whole or unhatched, all appeared either infertile or collapsed, died in early development, 

2 live hatchlings

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally protected.  special guidelines, training and permits are needed to work with Nesting mothers, nest, eggs or stranded Sea Turtles.

If you see a Nesting Sea Turtle, hatchling or standing in NMB or Briarcliffe please call 

The NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time day or night