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

INVENTORY RESULTS FROM PROTECTED ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD NEST # 9

 This protected endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest was relocated to a safer part of the beach after the dedicated NMB STP Volunteers found this crawl while walking the beach in the early morning sunrise patrol.   This nest was located too close to the high tide waterline and on a very busy beach with bright lights behind it. For these reasons it was determined the best chance for these Baby Hatchlings would be to relocate them to a safer more secluded part of the beach.

The weather report was showing storms in the near future; we were hopeful that they would hold off long enough to complete the inventory.  Lucky for all of us, as we had plenty of time to complete the inventory and get off the beach as the rain came much later.

The cage, poles and rope are removed from around the protected nest.  The equipment will be stored away in anticipation of next season.

Many of the NMB STP Volunteers have come to help, they will share stories and their passion with fellow volunteers and all that have come to help.

We even have the littlest of helpers tonight.  Great job 

A little background about this nest is given. Also, important information about how all Sea Turtles are endangered and federally and state protected.  This work can only be done under the strictest guidelines and only by permitted Volunteers.

The reason why one egg from every nest is taken from each nest for DNA studies is also shared.  Much information about this particular mother gathered will be entered into a national data base to continue with helping conservationist in the future efforts to help save the endangered Sea Turtle species.

The results are shared with all that have come. Everyone that has come will get to look at the hatched eggshells. They will get to see the results of just how well this protected nest did. 

88% hatch success rate

There were 137 eggs, 1 was used for DNA results,136 eggs relocated

119 hatched eggs

             17 whole unhatched eggs

                                 0 live hatchling left behind in the nest

       0 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, Hatchling 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 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