INVENTORY ON PROTECTED ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE NEST #8

 How this endangered Sea Turtle Nest began:  Two calls coming into the hotline about a Nesting Sea Turtle trying to come to shore to nest but people were shining lights on her (which is illegal).  The NMB STP Volunteers were soon there to keep all dark and quiet.  She was able to nest in peace as nature intended.  Just imagine pulling her heavy body all the way past the sand fence into the Dunes, with just her flippers. This Nesting Mother will then dig a hole about 18 to 24 inches deep with just her 2 back flippers, sometimes deeper depending on the species, then laying her eggs covering them back up witch a feat in itself.  She will then go back to the Ocean, crawling using just her flippers to carrying her heavy body back to the Ocean.  She may repeat this same duty, up to several times during her nesting year as she is doing her instinctive part to help save her species.  All this takes allot out of her as she does not eat the whole time while she is in her nesting phase.  Please always be respectful, stand a good distance away, never shine lights and never stand in front of her.

First the daunting duty of removing the protective cage and poles so this Nest can be inventoried.  So much sand has accumulated as the sand dunes are building up.  After the inventory the sand dunes will be restored, leveled out to resemble the natural Dunes building up. 

Many excited NMB STP Volunteers have come to help, they will talk and share stories and information amongst their fellow volunteers and all that have come to this inventory.  So much excitement to see how the hard work they put in has helped in saving the endangered Sea Turtle species.

Now it's time to start the inventory.  A little about how this nest was found, why it was relocated and why it is protected.  An explanation that all Sea turtle activity is only done with a permit through SCDNR, as all Sea Turtles are endangered and federally and state protected. The information gathered from this nest will be entered into a national database which will be used in future conservation efforts to help the endangered Sea Turtle species.

All are welcome to look at the empty eggshell and the unhatched egg, as many have not had the opportunity to see what the endangered Sea Turtle eggs look like.

There were 3 Baby Hatchlings that had not been able to make their way out of the egg chamber on their own, are allowed at a safe distance to see the Baby Hatchlings as they are released on the beach.

                                                       

Now for the inventory results

99% hatch success rate

118 eggs, 1 used for DNA studies, 117 eggs relocated

116 hatched eggshells

1whole unhatched egg

                        3 live hatchlings released on the beach

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 Turtle.

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

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Inventory for protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #7

 This nest was found by the NMB STP Volunteers as they were doing their morning sunrise patrol walks.  A Beautiful long crawl right up to the Dunes.  If this body pit had not been right in the middle of a public parking area it would have been the perfect spot to leave this nest. Because of the unsafe location of this Nest, it was moved a little away from this walkway.

This Nest had 146 eggs in it; one was used for DNA research, so 145 eggs were relocated. This nest incubated for 53 days.

The cage, poles and rope are taken down around this endangered Sea Turtle nest so the inventory can be done.

Many NMB STP Volunteers have come to help; they are all excited to see how their dedication has paid off for these endangered Sea Turtle Hatchlings.  The NMB STP are in their happy place as they share their passion and knowledge with between fellow Volunteers and all that have come to see the inventory.

A little information about what this inventory is, what we are doing and why is given to all that have come.  A brief story about this nest,and how it is an endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest.

Great news as all of the live Baby Hatchlings made it out of the egg cavity before the inventory.  A whole unviable unhatched egg is shown to all that have come to this inventory.  Loggerhead Sea Turtle Eggs are about the size of a ping-pong ball, they are also very pliable.  This will help as the egg drops on top of the others at this Nesting Loggerhead is laying her eggs, so they don't break.

146 eggs in this nest, 145 relocated.

97 % hatch success rate

140 hatched eggshells

      5 whole unhatched eggs

3 deceased Hatchling

no live Hatchlings    

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 the NMB or Briarcliffe areas please call immediately.

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

Inventory on protected Endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest #6

 A little bit about the start of this Protected Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest #6.  This Sea Turtle was coming to shore when it was called into the NMB STP Hotline around 11 pm. The NMB STP Volunteers arrived to make sure the beach is kept dark and quiet.  She nested in peace and quiet, the body pit was roped off to protect it until daybreak.  This nest was in a very busy beach with many lights that would unfortunately disorient the Baby Sea Turtle Hatchlings when it was their time to make it to the ocean. 

The dedicated NMB STP Volunteers have checked on this nest all summer long, to make sure it is kept safe. This nest incubated for 60 days, before the major emergence. 

We have waited 3 full days as the set protocol for this endangered Sea Turtle Nest.  These 3 days will give all the Baby Hatchlings that haven't made it out of the nest time to make it out on their own.  Permitted NMB STP Volunteers will then dig up the remainder of the nest.  They will count and document hatched eggs, whole eggs, pipped eggs and dead or alive Hatchlings, and if any live Hatchlings are left in the nest, they will be released on the beach.  All of this important documentation will be entered into a national data base to help in continued future conservation efforts to help save the endangered Sea Turtle Species.

The protective cage and poles are taken down to prepare for the inventory.  

It looks like rain is in the forecast, so this inventory will be done quickly to make sure we can finish before the rain come down.

Inventory is done and these are the results:

127 eggs in this nest, 1 used for DNA, so 126 relocated

81% hatch success rate

             102 hatched eggshells

                  24 whole unhatched eggs

            1 deceased 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 immediately

NMB SSTP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

NMB PROTECTED ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE NEST #5

A little bit about this protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest started.  Its just after midnight, and a call coming into the hotline about a Sea Turtle coming to shore to nest.  Because the Sea turtle had already cone back into the Ocean, the people at the condo had put up beach cones to protect the nest. The NMB STP Volunteers soon arrive at daybreak.  This nest was relocated to a safer part of the beach as it was close to the high tide line, during higher tides it would be over washed and would be destroyed by water.  This egg chamber was a little different because the egg chamber was very shelly, the shells protruding out on the sides of the egg cavity.  The sides of the egg chamber were also like hard cement, with 4 broken eggs caused by the sharp shells.  107 eggs were laid by this nesting mother, 4 were broken so 103 eggs were safely protected and relocated.

The weather forecast is rain on and off, as far as the rain is concerned, all looks good so far.  Many NB STP Volunteers have come to help, they will share stories, information and their passion for the endangered Sea Turtle Species.  They are anxious to see the results of their hard work all summer.\

A recap of what we know about this nest is given, along with the number of eggs, and days it incubated for before the major emergence.  

Well, so much for the rain holding out for us to finish, it started to pour.  The protection cage had been taken down already and no thunder or lightning, so the inventory is completed.  All are soaking wet, but finally it did stop.

There were 3 live hatchlings in this nest that were released on the beach to take their first crawl and then their first swim into the water.  Some Baby Hatchlings will make it past the waves the first time, while others it may take a try or two before taking that great big breath of air and diving a little under the wave to make it out.  Good luck out there little ones. We will never know for sure, if one of these Hatchlings will make it to adulthood to help save the future of the Sea Turtle Species. But the thought that one or more will make it to adulthood is pretty sweet.

Now for the inventory results, not has good as we had expected, but it may have been due to reasons be hound any of our control.  We may learn more about this particular mother once the DNA results come back.

51 % Hatch success rate

                103 relocated eggs

                           48 whole unhatched eggs

              55 Hatched eggs

0 dead 

                                                    3 live hatchlings (released on the beach)

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 immediately.

NMB STP HOTLINE

843-213-9074

ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT

JUST MORE WEEKS TO COME AND ENJOY THE FREE NMB STP TURTLE TALKS

WED 8-5 FROM 2-3 PM

 WED 8-12 FROM 2-3 PM

 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH SEA TURTLE TALKS

THIS IS A FREE PRESENTATION AT THE NMB HISTORICAL MEUSEUM ON WEDNESDAYS FROM 2-3 given by the NMB STP outreach program.

THIS IS FOR ALL AGES YOUNG AND OLD. COME AND LEARN ABOUTH THE ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE SPECIES NESTING RIGHT HERE IN THE CAROLINAS.

A nice way to spend the afternoon, all are welcome!!!