No Mans Land/NMB STP Protected Loggerhead nest inventory

How this nest became a protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest.  This nesting Sea Turtle was called in by Horry Sanitation in the early hours of the morning. No Mans Land/NMB STP Volunteers were soon there to protect, ensuring all quiet and dark so she could nest as she should in the darkness of the night.  The body pit was protected so it could be relocated to a safer part of the beach due to many lights and a busy beach.  This nest incubated for 63 days before the major emergence.

3 full days after the major emergence, the inventory is conducted.  All Sea Turtles are endangered, special guidelines, training and permits are required to perform any work done with the Sea Turtles.  The 3 days required to wait to do the inventory will allow any Baby Hatchlings time to make it out of the nest on their own.  This nest will be documented, counting hatched eggs, whole unhatched eggs, pipped eggs, are some of the things documented.  This information will be entered into a national data base to help in conservation efforts to continue to help save the Endangered Sea Turtle Species.

Many NMB STP Volunteers have come to help; they will talk with fellow Volunteers and all of the public that have come to see this inventory.  They will share their passion and knowledge amongst themselves and all that have come.  The poles and rope will also be taken down that were in place to protect this precious endangered Sea Turtle Nest.

There was a great turnout, so many have come to see and learn about this nest and so much about the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest.

Wow what a great turnout, all are patient while the inventory is being done.

The inventory results are shared with all that have come.

Inventory results

90%Hatch success rate

                     110 eggs in this nest, 109 relocated

98 hatched eggshells

                          11 whole eggs of which 3 were pipped

 11 deceased hatchlings

         no live hatchlings to release

All Sea turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately.

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Inventory on protected Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #4

 This protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest started after a call coming into the hotline, about a nesting Sea Turtle. The endangered Sea Turtle was protected by NMB STP Volunteers so she could nest without any harassment, lights and nested in the quiet and darkness of the night. In the morning NMB STP Volunteers are there to relocate this nest as it had many lights from the Highrise's behind it.  This nest incubated for 54 days.

The NMB STP Volunteers are here to help; they will also talk with fellow volunteers and many beachgoers to share their knowledge and passion.  For many beachgoers this will be their first inventory: the information on how everyone can help in the future of the endangered Sea Turtle Species. One never knows how this interaction just might spark the interest in future conservationist.

Behind the scenes there are the dedicated volunteers taking down the poles, ropes and cage that they had in place to protect this nest while in the delicate incubation period.

A recap of how this nest was found, how many days it incubated, along with the number of eggs in this nest are shared with all that have come.  An explanation that this is a protected endangered Sea Turtle Loggerhead nest, special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with the nest.  It has been 3 full days as required to give any hatchlings that may have not made it out of the nest a chance to make it out on their own.  After 3 full days the nest will be inventoried, the stats will be documented in a national data base to help in the conservation continue to help save the endangered Sea Turtle species. 

The weather has been raining on and off, but the rain stopped for a brief relief just to give us enough time to do the inventory.  The rain did pick back up at the end of the inventory though.

What a surprise for all that have come to this inventory, 16 live baby Hatchlings were found in the nest during inventory.  These Hatchlings were unable to make it out of the nest.  They will be brought around so everyone can see at a safe distance and quiet environment.  They will be released on the beach to start their long journey in life.

The baby Hatchlings have made their way to the deep blue, all making their first crawl and then making their first swim.  All eager as they went into the water coming up to take a breath before diving a little deeper to make it past the waves.

Now for the inventory results

84.4% Hatch success rate

126 eggs in this nest, 125 relocated in this nest

           103 hatched eggshells

15 whole eggs 

                                                                       7 pipped eggs (Hatchling died before completely emerging0

                                         16 live Hatchlings (released on the beach)

All Sea Turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.  Special guideline's, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle in NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately.

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Inventory of protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #3

 This is how this endangered Sea Turtle nest started.  The dedicated NMB STP have located this nest, they have put a cage, poles and rope around it to help protect it. They have spent all summer protecting and checking this nest to make sure nothing happens to it.  This nest was in a great location so was left In Situ (left natural, left where it was laid) The egg count will be a surprise until the inventory is completed.  This nest incubated for 57 days.

This In-Situ Nest had accumulated a great deal of sand inside of the cage area. The sand will have to be taken down to the original depth to be able to get the cage off and to the level of the nest. Only around the outside of the cage will be dug out with a shovel. Then carefully layer by layer the sand will be hand dug in case any baby Hatchlings are digging their way to the top. An of course moral support is always needed.

As the nest is taken down, this cage, poles, rope and signs will be put away and stored until the next season.  Flags will be put around to give direction for all that come, mainly protecting the fragile Dune system.

Many NMB STP Volunteers have come to help; they will talk with and share their knowledge and passion about the endangered Sea Turtle Species with fellow volunteers and any beachgoers who have come.

We are ready to start the inventory, many anxious NMB STP Volunteers and beachgoers are excited to see what the results are.  A recap of the history of this nest will be given before the inventory is conducted.

Now for the result about this nest is given. All of the hatchlings have made it out on their own.  All will be welcome to look at the hatched eggshells and the whole unviable eggs.

And now the moment we have all been waiting for, the results of this nest #3.

95 % Hatch success rate

   160 eggs in this nest

 152 Hatched shells

1 dead Hatchling

All Sea Turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are required to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a Nesting Sea Turtleford Hatchling in the NMB or Briarcliffe areas, please call immediately.

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074