BRIARCLIFFE SEA TURTLE NEST #1 INVENTORY

 THE FIRST SEA TURTLE NEST ON BRIARCLIFFE.  IT WAS FOUND ON MAY 31st. BOB AND CLAIRE CAME ACROSS THE CRAWL AND SOON CINDY AND CHERI ARRIVED, ALONG WITH OTHER VOLUNTEERS. THIS NEST WAS IN A SAFE LOCATION, SO IT WAS LEFT IN SITU (LEFT JUST AS IT WAS LAID).  THIS NEST INCUBATED FOR 58 DAYS.

ONE EGG IS USED FOR DNA STUDIES AND COVERED BACK UP. A CAGE WAS LATER PUT AROUND THIS NEST TO PROTECT NEST, AS A COYOTE HAD BEEN AROUND THIS NEST.

 JULY 28th, THIS HOLE WAS FOUND INDICATING A MAJOR EMERGENCE. WITH THE WIND AND RAIN ALL HATCHLING TRACKS HAVE BEEN ERASED. 

WIND HAS ADDED SEVERAL INCHES OF SAND ON TOP OF THE ORIGINAL NEST.

THIS HATCHLING HAD DIED DURING LATE DEVELOPMENT

AT THIS POINT IS WHEN THEY WILL KNOW HOW MANY EGGS ARE IN THIS NEST.  THE EGGS ARE CAREFULLY COUNTED AND DOCUMENTED

OK NOW COMES THE GREAT RESULTS THE RESULT FROM THIS INVENTORY

125 EGGS WERE LAID

90.4 % hatch success rate

113 WERE HATCHED EGGS

12 WHOLE EGGS, OF THESE 12 EGGS

      11 DIED IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT

      1 EGG DIED IN LATE DEVELOPMENT

All Sea Turtles are endangered, they are federally, and state protected, special guidelines, training and permits are needed to work with nesting Sea Turtles, Hatchlings, eggs, nest, and stranded Sea Turtles

If you see a Nesting Sea Turtle, Hatchlings, or strandings in NMB or Briarcliffe, please call the

NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time Day or Night