Inventory results of protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest # 2

 This is the beginning of the long process of protecting to the major emergence and then the inventory.  Every day the dedicated NMB STP Volunteers are checking this nest to make sure nothing happens to it. 

A great number of NMB STP Volunteers and bystanders are here to see the inventory of Nest #2(nest 1 and 2 two were done on the same night)

More Hatchlings are discovered in this nest that were not able to make it out on their own. Everyone will be able to look at a safe distance. they will also be able to look at an unviable egg.

The hatched eggshells and the whole unviable eggs are counted, this will be entered in a national database to help in the conservation efforts to help save the future of the Sea Turtle Species.

There were 8 live Hatchlings in this nest, they are released on the Beach so they can take their first crawls and then their first swim into the Ocean to start their journey of life.

And now the results of nest #2 incubating for56 days

There were 151 eggs in this nest, 150 relocated

97.3 % Hatch success rate

146 hatched eggshells

               3 whole eggs and 1 pipped eggs

5 deceased hatchlings

8 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, 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

The results are in for the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest #1

This is how this protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest began!!!

The Hotline was notified about a Sea Turtle on the Beach. The NMB STP Volunteers were there Shortley to protect and make sure no one will bother her.  She spent a long time in the darkness of the evening, no one approaching her or bothering her.  All Sea Turtles are endangered; they are federally and state protected.

Once she nested, the body pit was roped off to protect the nest.  Early in the morning the NMB STP Volunteers were there to safely relocate and protect this nest.

Every day the dedicated NMB STP Volunteers are checking this nest to make sure everything is ok while the precious eggs are incubating. 

This nest incubated for 61 days when the major emergence occurred. (this is when the majority of the hatchlings made it out of the nest, making their way to the ocean).

 This will be a long journey for those little Hatchlings. They estimate that the Baby Hatchlings will swim nonstop to the gulf stream, to reach the Sargassum bed of seaweed.    Here they will spend the beginning of their juvenile years on this floating bed of seaweed.

Now for the day the hard work of all of the NMB STP Volunteers are waiting for, the results of this protected nest #1

It has been 3 full days after the emergence, (these three days will give and hatchlings time to get out on their own and protocol.

Because all Sea Turtles are endangered, special guidelines, training and permits are required to do this. The results will be entered in a national database to help in the future conservation efforts to help save the Sea Turtle Species

 Many excited and anxious NMB STP Volunteers and Beachgoers have come to see the inventory.

There are 8 Live hatchlings in this nest.  They will be carefully brought around for all to be able to see, also everyone will get to look at one of the unviable eggs.

The hatched egg along with some of the eggs that did not make it, this is a natural occurrence in the nest. The results will be shared in a national data base to help in the future conservation efforts to help save the endangered Sea Turtle species.

A nice and respectful group of beachgoers and NMB STP Volunteers are able to watch the first crawl of the Endangered Sea Turtle Hatchlings as they enter the Ocean to begin their Journey.

Now is the time we have all been waiting for: 

The inventory results

This nest had 133 eggs,132 eggs relocated

91% Hatch success rate;

120 hatched Shells

              12 whole or enveloped egg

                                 8 live hatchlings released on the beach

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

Endangered Loggerhead Wild Nest becomes nest # 17

 Not our typical nest, as this nest is what is considered a wild Nest.  A wild nest will be a nest that was not found and known about.  This will typically happen in the rare case that maybe the wind, rain, storms or maybe beach raking have erased any signs of the tracks or body pit.  

The dedicated NMB STP Volunteers are out walking the NMB, Briarcliffe/Meher Baba Beach and what is known as No Mans Land 7 days a week.  They walk in all kinds of weather, rainy windy days, hot humid days and some of the most beautiful sunrise days, looking for crawls or body pits, unless it is unsafe to walk.  

A call coming into the hotline around midnight, about Baby Sea Turtle Hatchlings in the Highrise parking lot and pool area.  NMB STP Volunteer Chuck arrived, finding several hatchlings.  Other People indicating that more were found in the parking garage and pool area before he arrived and had been safely brought to the Ocean and released.  He then searched all over seeing many tracks in the walkway and going into the dunes leading to the bright lights of the Highrise and pool area. Sadly, he could not find tracks leading to on the beach, leading us to believe that most if not all had gone the wrong way.

 This miss orientation could be devasting to the endangered Baby Sea Turtle Hatchlings, as they have a limited amount of energy that they should be using to make their trek to the Sargasso Sea.  This miss orientation could drastically lesson their chances of having enough energy as they swim to the Sargasso Sea (a floating bed of seaweed.) The Hatchlings will spend much of their juvenile years in the protection of this seaweed. But we are always hopeful as the Hatchlings that were recovered, were released on the sand close to the Ocean to enter the Ocean fairly quickly.

 Early morning at daybreak Volunteers are there to help look for any signs of a wild nest and any more hatchlings that may be displaced. More hatchlings are found and safely brought to the Ocean to start their journey of life.

 Luckily the nest was found right off.  Because of the danger of being in the walkway, with heightened chances of being walked on and again going the wrong way into the dunes towards the buildings, roadway and parking garage this nest will be immediately inventoried.

We are so thankful for all the people living in this Highrise and surrounding areas and people on the beach alerting us of the Hatchlings and keeping an eye out for the precious little Sea Turtle Hatchlings. As reports coming from people living here, were that they were still finding the baby Sea Turtle Hatchlings the following morning. Thanks Sherry and all that helped spread the word to help these endangered Sea Turtle Hatchlings

Here are some of the tracks all leading the wrong way, away from the ocean to the dangers of the parking garage, pool and roadway.  The NMB STP Volunteers are actively looking and finding Hatchlings that were misoriented by the bright lights of the high rises.  Every minute counts, they need to go out to the ocean to start their journey of life, the longer they are wandering in the dunes, pool and roadway the more dangerous it is for their survival.  

 NMB STP Volunteers are vested in finding the Nest because if more baby hatchlings come out of the nest they would most likely go towards the Highrise lights or if they came out the sand would be too hot for them.  Time is of the essence.

Well Chuck has found the nest, by carefully following the tracks and looking around he spotted the area circled in black.

   

 I'm pretty sure everyone was expecting a tough and challenging day in finding the egg chamber, if it was able to even be found.  A sense of relief and an overwhelming sense of happiness' at the same time, knowing the remaining hatchlings will be safely released if some hatchlings were still in the egg chamber.

An inventory on the nest is done right off, any live Hatchlings will be released immediately

.

Whole unhatched egg and the empty eggshells will be counted to determine the nest successes rate.

the results are pretty good for a wild nest.

                                                             140 eggs in this nest

                                                             20 whole eggs unviable

                                                             120 hatched eggs

                                                             16 live hatchlings in this nest (released on the beach immediately)

                                                                Hatch success rate is 86 %

This is a picture of where the egg chamber was and the miss orientation going to the bright lights.  Such a devastating encounter for the endangered Sea Turtle Hatchlings.  This is a very good example of why Sea Turtle nest are protected and relocated when there is a chance of the bright lights in the background.                    

Hatchlings found in the nest and hatchlings found around and, in the parking garage are immediately released on the Beach to start their journey of life.

Ok now the NMB STP Volunteers are making a second sweep looking for any stragglers that may still have been in the dunes or hiding in the parking garage that have not previously been found.

We are checking the pool area again as hatchlings were found in the pool previously the night before.

And oh, my heart, a hatchling is spotted swimming in the pool. and then another. and towards the outer edge trying to hide are a couple more.  And then just as the Volunteers thought we had them all, they look in the drains just to rule them out and 3 more Hatchlings!!!

 All together 8 more endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchlings.  They are immediately brought to the Oceans edge and ran to the ocean soon disappearing in the ocean waves. this pool will be much bigger than the one they were just in.  An overwhelming feeling of serenity has filled our hearts as the Baby Hatchlings are on their way to start the journey and adventure of their lives.

3 Baby Hatchlings were found in the drain, if you look close he/she almost looks like he/she is hugging the whale.  Hope this little Hatchling doesn't think whales are this small.

The little one that tried to swim away. Soon he/she was released on the ocean beach near the water to swim in much deeper and bigger waters.

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 NMB or Briarcliffe areas and encounter a Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchling or stranded Sea turtle please call immediately

NMB STP VOLUNTEER

843-213-9074

ANYTIME OF DAY OR NIGHT