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 NMB STP Volunteers are walking the NMB, Briarcliffe/Meher Baba Beach and what is known as No Mans Land 7 days a week. They walk in 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 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 will 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 could drastically lesson their chances of making the trip they need to take, but we are always hopeful.
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, where that they were still finding them 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
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