Saturday 7/29 - Nest #9R & False Crawl #17

 Luckily the rain held out for us and we found a false crawl and a nest!

False Crawl #17 - Unfortunately, there were no eggs. But, she could possibly be the same turtle that laid nest #9. There were many coyote tracks near the crawl.

Kaela checking a soft spot for eggs (just soft sand, no eggs), and Betsy measuring the crawl width.

Nest #9!!! Looks like an awareness ribbon

Steve expertly probing the nest to find the egg chamber. 

Bob and Brenda helping to relocate the nest. It was laid too close to the tide line, putting it in danger of getting washed over. We safely moved it higher up on the beach. 

Text by Kaela. Photos by Kaela, Betsy, and Cherie.

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance under SCDNR Permit Number: MTP500.

Wednesday, July 26th - Nest #8R

The day started with a beautiful sunrise, very still morning, hot and humid. The lower end of the island, Hog Inlet has seen some serious erosion. 

Before we left the shed, I told the Wednesday Volunteers that we have two turtles that may come back to nest. Sure enough, one came back and we have Nest #8R. She is on the small side, just 32 inch crawl. This nest is close to our other nests that are located mid-way up the island. A classic crawl and body pit, and she laid it in the wrack line. The nest chamber was found quickly, and was about 8 inches deep. She laid 120 eggs, at the bottom of the nest there was a broken egg - which we used for the DNA. 

We moved the nest back from the wrack line, and higher up on the slope of the dune - 119 eggs were moved. The relocation duties were shared with the volunteers, and several got to do things they had not done before, so it was a win, win for everyone. 

As we get close to the end of the nesting season, everyone is excited we have another nest. Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance under SCDNR Permit Number: MTP500. 

Pictures by Val and Leslie, Text by Leslie 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valerie called and we have a nest!

 

Classic Body Pit

Incoming

Outgoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding the Nest Chamber and moving the eggs

Leslie found the nest chamber quickly

We have eggs

Kathy starting on moving the eggs

Assistance - egg counters

Chris starting on digging new nest

Kathy finishing up moving the eggs

Chris doing the DNA vial

Moving the eggs to the new relocated nest site

Kathy starting moving the eggs to new home

Help with keeping count

Chris finishing up moving the eggs

Setting up DNR sign

Wednesday Volunteers - Good job everyone!!

They found a SHARK at the upper end of the island

Great Team Work

Nest 8R - new home, high and dry

 

Tuesday, July 25th - Message in a Bottle

 Every once in a while, we find a beach treasure - a message in a bottle! Who set it adrift? Where did it come from??

Beach treasure ☺

Newly launched

 

This bottle hadn't been in the ocean very long and we could read some of the writing inside. We wanted this message to have the opportunity to travel a little further, so we set it adrift again. Who knows where it might go?

The metal tank at the upper end gave us a photo op today - some of the sea anenomes were exposed to the air while others were still under the water. 

Top of the anenome exposed to the air

This one is underwater

Barb and Steve

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance under SCDNR Permit Number: MTP500.

Saturday, July 22nd - No Turtle Activity

 It was a beautiful morning out on Waties.

Although we did not have any sea turtle activity, we did see some interesting beach life.

The first thing we saw was a Red Beard Sponge. 

Then, a Noble Sea Cucumber. It is in the same family as sand dollars and sea urchins.

The “aquarium” (a large washed up metal bin on the beach that is often full of water) was also back, filled with anemones and some sort of seaweed.

We found a small Hitchhiker anemone washed up that wasn’t even attached to anything. It must have gotten knocked off of something.

Lastly, we found a little Atlantic Sand Crab.

Text and photos by Kaela.

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance under SCDNR Permit Number: MTP500.

Tuesday and a New Nest on the Lower End

 A first for this season - a crawl on the Hog Inlet end of the island. This makes seven nests now and we anticipate a couple more before the nesting season ends. (Then the hatching/emerging of nests begins; excitement all over again!)

Today's nest was a loggerhead who made an extreme journey to lay her eggs. The incoming crawl was one of the longest we've seen and the outgoing crawl was even longer. She had to be one tired turtle was all was said and done.

A very long crawl

A coyote was interested in the turtle too; tracks followed her to the nest and back to the ocean again.

Paw prints all the way to the nest

Coyote prints

Looking for the nest

Finding the nest :)  The eggs were only about 4 inches below the surface - very shallow

Getting ready to move the nest

Smiles all around

Everyone had a part to play - it was a team effort!

Safely in the new nest - 126 eggs in total and one removed for the DNA sample.

Good Job Everyone!!

Barb and Steve

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance under SCDNR Permit Number MTP500.