Inventory on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #14

This nest started out as a beautiful crawl halfway up the Beach.  Because this nest was on a very busy beach with many bright lights from the high rises, this nest is relocated.  While carefully relocating these eggs we will take the opportunity to count them. there were 94 eggs in this nest, 1 was used for DNA studies, 93 relocated.

This little ghost crab was smart as he/she made their home inside the cage but did not bother the Hatchlings or eggs.

Many NMB STP Volunteers have come to help and interact with all that have come to the inventory.  When you stand back and look around at all that passion and happy laughter and talking going on, a warm feeling kind of comes over you, that like-minded conservationist will continue well into the future.  Many will now be aware on how everyone can make a difference in their everyday lives. You always dream and hope that an inventory, or an interaction with a volunteer may start the passion for someone else. 

                                                      

All will be given the story of how this nest was found along with how many eggs are in this nest.  A little bit about the DNA Studies and how important they are. The DNA can identify a specific mother, along with her future babies, siblings and so much more should they come back to nest.  The DNA can also tell us how many times she nested, what beach she nested on, how many years in-between nesting events and how many time she nested during a specific nesting year, and so much more, as long as the eggs were found and processed.

All will get to see and unviable egg while the inventory is going on.  Its about the size of a ping pong ball.  They are 

The inventory results

94 eggs in this nest, 1 used for DNA Studdies,93 relocated

86 % hatch success rate

80 Hatched eggshells

                        13 whole unhatched eggs (unviable)

0 deceased Hatchlings

0 Live Hatchlings     

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, Nest, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtles.

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

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Inventory of Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest #13

 Nest 13 had us guessing, it was a long, beautiful crawl up past the new sand fence, but was it a nest? very little thrown sand and could be a small mound. This would become NMB Loggerhead nest 13.  This Nest would have been left in situ had it not been for the busy part of the beach with many bright lights behind the nest.  The NMB STP Volunteers carefully relocated this nest to a safer part of the beach to give the Baby Hatchlings the best chance in starting their journey of life.  

This nest incubated for 53 days before the major emergence.  This nest would stay as it is under the protection of the cage and poles for 3 full days after the major emergence.  These 3 days are required unless special circumstances with permission to give any Hatchlings the opportunity to make it out on their own. There was evidence that more Baby hatchlings came out of this nest on their own before inventory

Many NMB STP Volunteers have come to help; they will talk with fellow Volunteers and the many people who have come to the inventory.  All are anxiously waiting to see the results of how their dedication has paid off. 

A little about the story of this nest will be shared with all that have come to the inventory.  They will explain that 1 egg from every nest is used for the important DNA research.  This information will be entered into a national data base to help in the future conservation efforts.

All are welcome to look at the egg chamber and the hatched and unhatched eggs.  Many are amazed to learn that the Mother Sea Turtle will typically dig about 18-24 inches deep, sometime deeper depending on the species.  Is amazing to think she has dug a nest with just her two back flippers.  The top part of the egg chamber will be only 6-7 inches wide at the top and then wider at the bottom where her eggs will incubate, looking much like an inverted lightbulb.  

                                                      

The results of this Loggerhead Nest will be shared with everyone that has come.

The results of nest #13

103 eggs in this nest, 1 used for DNA Research, 102 relocated

94.1% Hatch success rate

96 Hatched eggs

6 whole eggs (unviable)

0 deceased Hatchlings

0 Live 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, Nest, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

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

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Inventory results of Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest #12

This crawl led up to an attempted nesting sight, (where she started to dig an egg chamber), she soon abandoned this and nested a little further up towards the dunes. Because this was on a busy part of the beach with many lights in the background this nest was relocated to a safer part of the beach.   

This nest incubated for 51 days.  From day one until inventory the dedicated NMB STP Volunteers carefully monitored this nest to make sure nothing happens to it. 

The dedicated Volunteers walk from May 1st until the middle of August, many walking 1 or more days every week, all making the difference to help in the survival of the Endangered Sea Turtle Species.  Even after the walking is done the Season is not done, the remaining nest still needs to be monitored by the dedicated Volunteers.

The cage that has helped to keep this precious nest safe from anything on the beach is taken down. This cage will be stored until next year.  

Despite the rain forecast many have come to this inventory to see how the dedication of all of the NMB STP Volunteers out walking each and every day has done.  NMB STP Volunteers are excited as they talk amongst fellow volunteers and anyone coming to the inventory. Everyone has so much to offer either while they learn or share information with others.

An unviable Sea Turtle egg is show to all that have come to the inventory

The inventory results are shared with all that have come to the inventory.  Some information of how EVERONE can help in their everyday lives.  And who knows when this interaction may spark the future generations to continue the conservation efforts leading into the future

All will get to come and look at the egg chamber where the preciouses Eggs incubated.  There was an egg that was unviable that the roots wrapped around it.

The results of nest #12

119 eggs in this nest, 118 eggs relocated.

97% hatch success rate

     115 hatched eggshells

      3 whole unviable eggs

  1 deceased hatchling

0 live hatchlings   

All Sea turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.  Special guidelines, training and permits are reqiured to work with Nesting Sea Turtles, Nest, 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 results Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #11

 This nest was found close to the waterline, also on a busy part of the beach with many Highrise's. The lights would put the Baby Hatchlings in danger and of risk of going the wrong way.  We took the opportunity to count the eggs as they were being relocated. 106 eggs, which 2 were broken deep down into the nest. 102 eggs were safely relocated to a safer part of the beach.

The cage and poles are taken down. Storms are in the horizons, so this inventory will be done quickly just in case the storms decide to come in early. We are in luck the inventory is able to be finished.

A small group as we started a little early and worked quickly to ensure this nest could be completed before any storms may come. 3 live hatchlings were found in this nest.

The Hatchlings were released on the beach to make their way to the Ocean to start their new journey.  They will swim nonstop to the Sargasso Sea (a floating bed of Seaweed in the Gulf.  They will spend the first few years of their juvenile lives here.

Inventory results of Loggerhead Nest #11

96% Hatch success rate

106 eggs in this nest,104 relocated

100 Hatched eggs

          4 whole unhatched eggs

                                  3 live Hatchlings/ released on the beach

    0 deceased hatchlings

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, Nest, Hatchlings and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you encounter a 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 result of protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest #10

 This is how this protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest started.  The nest was found in a great place behind the Sand Dunes fence, but the lights from the Highrise's behind this nest would not be safe for the baby Hatchlings once they emerged.  So, this nest was relocated to a safer part of the beach.  Since it was relocated, we had the opportunity to count the eggs, 111 eggs with 1 used for DNA studies, 110 eggs were safely relocated.  The NMB STP Volunteers will check this nest all summer long to make sure nothing happens to it.

The NMB STP Volunteers Have come to help and see the results of their hard work they put in all season.  They will share stories and information amongst fellow volunteers and all that have come to the inventory.

A brief recap about this nest is shared with all that have come.  We will explain that this work is only done under stick guidlines, training and permits as all Sea Turtles are endangered and federally and state protected.

The inventory is completed and all are able to look at the empty eggs, unhatched unviable eggshells and the egg chamber that the eggs incubated in.  in this nest there were many roots from the Sea Grass also.

There were 3 live Hatchlings found in this nest that was not able to make it out on their own.  These hatchlings are released on the beach to make their way to the ocean to begin their long Journey to the Sargasso Sea.

Now for the inventory results of nest #10

93% Hatch success rate

111 eggs in this nest, 110 relocated

102 hatched eggshells

   8 whole/unhatched eggs

0 deceased Hatchlings

     3 live Hatchlings/released

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, Nest and stranded Sea Turtles.

If you are in the NMB or Briarcliffe areas and see a Nesting Sea turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea Turtle please call

NMB STP Hotline

84-213-9074

anytime day or night