Inventories on Nests 6 & 8

The inventory on Nest 6 was done this morning with the help of members from the C.C.U. Turtle Club.  Also present were some of our walkers from other days as well as visitors and family members.  Nest 6 results:
Nest was 70 days old.

  Due to rain/wind we did not see this nest emerge.
Eggs Hatched: 43
Eggs Unhatched: 40
Eggs lost to Ghost Crabs: 15 (One of these eggs was used for DNA Study.)
Clutch Count: 98 
Hatch Success: 43.8%
Emergence Success: 43.8%
This nest has been plagued by Ghost Crabs right from the start.  When we got to the nest, we had no trouble locating it, there were already two eggs on the surface.  We used one of these eggs for the DNA study.

Nest 8:  Unfortunatelly, we have no pictures for this nest.  Our regular walkers were busy with the nest while we were busy with nest 6.
Again, due to all the rain and wind we have been having on the island, we did not see this nest emerge.  There was never any depression or tracks. The only sign we had were two hatchlings found on two different days.  Both hatchlings were completely developed and without their egg sack.  A sign that they were ready to leave the nest.  As a result, DNR told Karen to check the nest and to determine if it had hatched.
Results:  Nest was 56 days old
Eggs Hatched: 51
Eggs Unhatched: 16
Dead Hatchlings:  1 on the surface, 1 in the nest
Eggs Lost:  1 DNA study; 9 to Ghost Crabs
Clutch Count:  77
Hatch Success: 66.2%
Emergence Success: 53.2%

Thank you Paulette for taking the pictures!

Sea Turtle Club volunteers digging

Group