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!!!

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