INVENTORY ON NMB NEST # 15

This nest was found on July 10th, 120 eggs were found and protected, one egg was used for DNA studies. The eggs incubated for 55 days, with a great hatch success rate of 90%.  Every beach is different, and on every beach, location has different challenges volunteers encounters when trying to protect the endangered Sea Turtle Species.   Strict guidelines need to be followed as they are Federally, and State protected.  One of the many challenges are the predators like fox and coyotes, all wildlife need to co-exist on the beautiful beaches, so some special precautions have been put in place.  NMB STP Volunteers Don and Kim made cages, to put around each nest.  Much research and thought have been put into the design of these cages, so the Hatchlings can naturally emerge and leave the nest,while making suret predators are unable to reach the egg cavity.

It is thought that fox can hear the baby Hatchlings under the sand when they start hatching and moving around.  These cages are so important, as the Hatchlings will stay underground for about 3 to 5 days once they break out of their eggs.  During this time, they will finish this last critical part of their development, they will absorb the egg yolk for energy and nutrients, during this time the carapace (Shells) are still curved from being in the eggshell and so the shells will straighten out,  then the hatchlings must climb up to the top of the chamber, out of the nest and make their way to the Ocean.

THIS IS THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF THE FOX TO GET TO THE EGG CAVITY IN THIS NEST. MANY NMB STP VOLUNTEERS ARE INVOLVED IN CHECHKING THIS NEST AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS OK.  TWO FOX WERE SEEN LATE INTO THE NIGHT, TRYING TO DIG INTO THE NEST, BUT NMB STP VOLUNTEERS PRESENCE, HAVE DETERED THEM FOR NOW.

BUT THE FOX DID NOT STOP TRYING, IN FACT THERE WERE TWO FOX THAT HAD COME TO TRY TO GET INTO THE NEST CAVITY.  THANKFULLY THE CAGE IS VERY BIG AND VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO.

THE SECOND GREAT FACTOR THAT HAD HELPED IN THE FOX NOT GETTING INTO THE NEST WAS THAT CHRIS AND HIS DAUGHTER HANNA.  VACATIONING AND ON THIER WAY VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING TO LOOK FOR SHARKS TEETH, PASSED THE NEST, SAW TWO FOXES DIGGING AROUND THE CAGE, WHICH WERE SCARED AWAY FROM THE NEST.  MANY THANKS. 

WHILE DAYLIGHT EMERGENCE ARE RARE, SOMETIMES THEY DO HAPPEN.  THIS MORNING NMB STP VOLUNTEERS CHECKED THE NEST  EARLY AND ALL WAS OK, THEN WHEN NMB STP VOLUNTEER BRUCE,  RIDING HIS BIKE, STOPPED TO CHECK THE NEST  AND SAW, THE HATCHLING RUNNING DOWN THE BEACH.  BRUCE MADE SURE ALL THE HATCHLINGS MADE IT TO THE OCEAN SUCCESSFULLY.  IT IS POSSIBLE THE FOX DIGGING AROUND THE CAGE AND NEST MAY HAVE CAUSE THE HATCHLINGS TO COME OUT EARLY.

AND NOW ONTO THE INVENTORY, NMB STP VOLUNTEERS ARE READY TO HELP, MANY ANSWERING AND SHARING THIER KNOWLWGE AND PASSION WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WALK UP TO THIS INVENTORY.  MANY ARE SO EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT THE ENDNGERED SEA TURTLE THAT NEST ON THE BEACHES IN NMB

 

ONE HATCHLING IS FOUND IN THIS NEST STILLIN THE NEST AND  IS PUT INTO A BUCKET WHILE INVENTORY IS COMPLETED TO BE  RELEASED AS SOON AS THE NEST IS INVENTORIED.

 IN THIS NEST WAS ALSO A DECEASED PIPPED HATCHLING, (HATCLING THAT HAS NOT COMPLETELY MADE IT OUT OF THE SHELL).  IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE THE TEMPORARY EGG TOOTH (CARBUNCLE), THIS IS A TEMPORARY TOOTH ON THIER SNOUT THAT HELPS THEM BREAK OUT OF THE SHELL.

NOW ITS TIME FOR THE BABY HATCHLING TO MAKE HIS WAY DOWN THE BEACH AND INTO THE OCEAN TO START HIS FIRST CYCLE OF LIFE. ALL ARE WELCOME TO WATCH THE BABY HATHLING MAKE HIS WAY TO THE OCEAN AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE HATCHLING.

THE BABY HATCHLING IS ON THE WAY

  

GOOD LUCK LITTLE ONE, AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SARGASSO SEA.

Inventory results

120 eggs, one used for DNA studies

90% hatch success rate

119 eggs

107 hatched eggs

12 whole eggs, 

  11 of these were discolored and collapsed 

  1 pipped egg, 1 dead hatchling

1 live hatchling

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

If you see a stranded Sea Turtle or Hatchling in NMB or Briarcliffe please call the NMB STP Hotline

843-213-9074

Any time day or night