Getting Down to the Wire

As we started out today (with WAY fewer mosquitoes, thank you), we had only two nests left to check. Nest 8 and Nest 9. Well, we were happy to find that Nest 8, laid back on July 26, had emerged overnight at Day 52. Always a great morning when we see any sort of turtle activity and seeing all those hatchling tracks is just great!

Jackie was following the tracks toward the ocean when she spotted a turtle in trouble - it was stuck in a ghost crab hole. Fearing the worst, we put gloves on and dug it out. It was alive, very lively, raring to go and probably very relieved to be free. It immediately headed to the ocean - took one wash back in the waves and then ducked under the next one and on the way.

While we were watching this spectacle, an ultralight flew over - bet he wishes he was on the ground with us.

Speaking of turtle happenings, we had one more sighting - Nest 6 which emerged on Thursday, had one additional hatchling emerge overnight. One set of tracks going right down to the ocean. 

Happy morning 😎

Barb

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

Friday, September 15 - Inventory of Nest 7R

 Fall was in the air this morning as our Friday team headed up island to check on the status of our remaining nests. A beautiful sunrise, cool breeze at our back, and big/very active wave action, courtesy of far-off Hurricane Lee, made for a very pleasant journey. The huge mosquitos, which plagued volunteers all week, thankfully took the day off😊

After all nests were checked and deemed resting comfortably, we joined a large group of volunteers and guests at the lower end of the island to complete the inventory of Nest 7R. This nest was found on July 18, and was our only nest on the Hog Inlet end of the island this year. It was relocated by the Tuesday team to a spot more favorable on the beach. The nest emerged on September 12 - day 56. 

Joining us for the first time this season were members of the CCU Sea Turtle Club. These club members are invited to participate in inventories once they have attended the yearly presentation provided on campus each fall by Leslie. After being reminded of proper procedures, fifteen excited and eager students dug into the nest, filled helper roles, and completed the sorting and counting duties - all under the watchful eyes of seasoned volunteers and leads. 

8

To the delight of all, a live hatchling was found near the bottom of the nest. As always happens in this situation, all work is halted for a time while all present dote over the little one, taking turns holding him and taking pictures. 

Work eventually resumed, the nest emptied of hatched and unhatched egg shells, and the results tallied. Good result! 104 hatched, 21 unhatched, one live hatchling. Hatch success 82.5%, emergence success 81.7%.

We all accompanied the hatchling to the ocean, snapping more pics and encouraging him on his journey. Some big waves to navigate out there, little fellow! We wish you well.

 

Long serving friends, Barb, Val and Linda happy to meet up with each other this morning….

while potential future turtle ladies celebrate a great morning and job well done!

~~In honor of our first fall like day of the season- What do you use to mend a jack-o-lantern? A pumpkin patch😊

Photos by Melissa, Barb, Leslie and Kim. Text by Kim

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

Thursday, September 14th - Nest #6R Emerged

The Thursday Volunteers reported a large exit hole at Nest #6R.  However, due to the heavy rain the night before there were no clear tracks on the beach.  There seemed to be evidence of tracks exiting the emergence hole, so I left it as an inconclusive status.  Today, the Friday Volunteers and senior volunteers took a better look and deemed that he had emerged.  They even found a dead hatchling that had most likely been dragged into a Ghost Crab burrow. The pictures posted are from today.

Emergence hole

Dead hatchling - did not make it past the Ghost Crabs

An email will be sent to volunteers about an inventory.

Thanks to Kim for today's pictures

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

 

Relocated Nest 7 Emerged Overnight

Another happy discovery this morning; lots and lots of hatchling tracks! Always a rewarding sight and especially for this nest because the Tuesday team was the group that found and moved the nest.

Successful exit from the nest

Hatchling tracks spread out just like they should to evade any predators (ghost crabs, coyotes, birds) who might be around at the time they made their way to the ocean.

Lots of tracks!

This nest was found on July 18 and the mother turtle laid 126 eggs. Looks like a lots of them hatched successfully. When the inventory is conducted, we will get the final results.

The mosquito population has exploded over the last week or so and they have been making us resort to protective gear :)  Those gallinippers are HUGE and they are in cahoots with the swarms of regular mosquitos.Even high octane DEET doesn't stop them!

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

Wednesday, September 6 - Inventory Nest 5R

 The calendar may say September, but Mother Nature has not yet relinquished summer and is continuing to provide sunny, hot and humid days on the beach. We will soak it up for as long as we can. Our remaining incubating embryos appreciate it was well.

This morning our Wednesday team was joined by additional volunteers and a guest tasked with the opportunity to complete the inventory of Nest 5R.

This nest was laid on July 14, about midway up the island. Mamma crawled a long way, coming in at low tide and making her way up up the front of the dune choosing to nest at the very top.

We probed extensively, but mamma did her job well and the nest eluded us for a while. Our perseverance eventually paid off, and we found the egg chamber at the precipice of the dune. The decision was made to relocate the nest due to its precarious position on the dune, the abundance of grasses, and due, in part, to our not so great results with dune-top nests last year.

137 eggs were relocated to the base of the dune next to the incoming crawl. The nest emerged on September, 3, day 51. 

After we arrived at the nest, assignments for the inventory were made, and we got to work. The egg chamber was easily located following the soft sand, and the process of handing off eggs to the sorters and counters began.

New-this-year volunteer Dani and guest Billie Jo get the honors of digging into the nest as Mario provides guidance throughout the process. 

Eggs, hatched and unhatched, are handed off to helpers Ayana, Chris, JoAnn, and Leslie Y, then on to the sorters and counters to assess the success of the nest.

Sorters and counters, Kathy, Kim P and Val tally the results. 104 hatched, 33 unhatched, and, to the delight of all, 4 sweet and ready to go hatchlings who got left behind. Nest hatch success rate: 74.8%, emergence rate 71.9%

After lots of pics with these little treasures…

…it was time to take them down near the surf for their release. They are placed close to, but not at, the water’s edge to provide them with the opportunity to get those flippers fully operational and to provide for their geomagnetic imprinting which will allow females to return to lay on their natal beach when they reach maturity.

                                                           

                                                                    We’re on our way!

And finally, to the man who brought us endless summers and an intense love of the seas and all her creatures, a salute from an aging, but eternally young Parrothead and a few of her turtle loving friends. Rest in Paradise Jimmy…fins up!

Pics from Leslie and Kim. Text by Kim

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

Sunday, September 3rd - Nest #5 Emerged, and a surprise by the jetty - Nest #11

 Another great morning on Waties.  I walked with the Sunday Volunteers since Erin took a well deserved long weekend off.  We had a busy morning.  There was lots of action at Nest #5.  Classic Emergence hole, lots of tracks to the ocean.  Those little ones had a long walk to the water and they had to go around or over large piles of wrack left from the storm.  Nest #5 was laid on July 14th and emerged on Day 51.  The inventory will be on Wednesday and announced via a separate email.

 

 

 

 

Classic emergence hole

Example of the piles of wrack.

These hatchlings were not alone on the beach, hopefully the Coyotes came after they dashed to the ocean.

Along with Coyote tracks, are those pesky Ghost Crabs

Who came first?  The hatchling or the Coyote?

 

The Sunday Volunteers elected to walk up to the jetty, and happy they did - Mario discovered a wild or "Undetected Nest" behind the first row of rocks at the jetty.  She laid right at the base of a small dune with vegetation on it.  Unfortunately, the Coyotes found the nest and dug it up.  We do know that the eggs had hatched, we don't know whether the hatchlings got to the water or did the Coyote's find them first.  There were no tracks etc.  The Sunday Volunteers did find 5 deceased hatchlings within the rocks of the jetty.  When we find a wild nest, we have to do a few things differently than when we find a crawl with a body  pit etc.  We did take a flipper from one of the deceased hatchlings and this was used for the DNA sample.  The other thing we do when a nest is dug up, we have to do the inventory at that time, we do not wait the customary three days.  This nest had 62 hatched eggshells, 1 unhatched egg, 5 deceased hatchlings and zero live hatchlings.  The nest had a 98.4 Hatched Success and 90.4 Emergence Success.

Hoping these hatchlings timed it with the high tide.

Unhatched Egg

Coyote dug the nest up

And made a mess

Inventory Results

RIP Little ones

Sunday Volunteers had a busy morning

Location of the nest

Photos by Mario and Leslie, narrative by Leslie

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