Waties Island Nest Count

Monday, September 12, 2011

More Turtles on Their Way Overnight

The Monday walkers found that Nest 17 (the one right next to the entrance) emerged overnight.  There were lots and lots of hatchling tracks heading for the water.  One little turtle made a wrong turn and ended up behind the dunes somehow.  The walkers followed the tracks and found the turtle.  This one didn't make it, but it sure looks like lots of others did.

Check back on Friday for the inventory results!




Barb

Monday, September 5, 2011

Digging Up The Nests

Sunday was cool and sunny on the beach and we set out to conduct two inventories, Nest 9 and the newest emergence, Nest 19.  We had the exact location of the nest for #9 and it was our best outcome yet:  125 hatched egg shells and only 5 unhatched eggs.  Including the shell taken initially for the DNA project makes a total of 131 eggs laid and a 95.4% hatch success ratio.  Amanda's mom was on hand to help out along with Diane and Paulette.

Janet, Paulette and Diane


125 hatched and only 5 unhatched
In the meantime, Dave, Judy, Amanda, Valerie, Dave and Steve were looking for the egg chamber for Nest 19. This one was very tough to find - it was fairly close to the sign showing the general vicinity of where we thought the nest might be (more good luck than good management), but even so we dug for almost two hours without finding it.


Judy, Dave and Amanda start the hunt
Where is it??


So Monday morning, we asked Chris (she was on hand the morning the tracks were found) to help locate the nest.  And a very good thing too; she was able to zero in on the location after only a little bit of digging.  She dug in by hand and found a live hatchling right at the top of the nest.  Guest walker Betty did the escort duties this morning.


Trying to keep it somewhat shaded


Only two didn't make it - we used one for the DNA sample

Paulette, Betty, Bob, Chris, Dave and Barb
Again, a very good outcome with 80 hatched shells, 6 unhatched, 1 live hatchling and two dead ones.

Persistence paid off in locating this nest - thanks to everyone who helped out!

Barb




Thursday, September 1, 2011

"Possible Nest" 1 Emergence!!!!!!!!

What a difference a couple of days make!
 It was a beautiful, crisp morning!

Hole is about five feet to the right of the marker

Many many tracks!  Valerie you were right!!!! It's a nest!


These tracks lead all the way down to the water.
 We must have just missed the boil!

Surprise! Keela found this little one turned over on its back.
She righted him and he took off!

And away he goes! Well...it took a few more minutes :)


Submitted by Chris

Monday,August 29 First day back from storm

Erosion of the dunes about midway to jetty

Kim showing the scale of erosion.
 If any one knows how to rotate pictures on this blog, please shoot me an email!
Submitted by Chris

Nest 12 Emergence Thursday,August 25

We counted 31 tracks

dead center of the reed!

Hurricane marker


They went every which way!

Sky the day before the storm
submitted by Chris- sorry for delay!