Friday, September 23 Inventory

Friday, September 23, our last nest is inventoried!!
Nest 25 was laid on July 26 just below marker 5.
This nest emerged on Tuesday, September 23,
day 56. We found 55 hatched, 42 unhatched eggs,
a 56% hatch success. We had one triple egg, and
three double eggs!! The doubles were all hatched,
the triple had two hatched chambers and one
unhatched chamber!! Very interesting!!
Another wonderful day on Waties!
Pictures by Karen Fuss and Paulette
Post by Paulette

CCU students help Jingle dig

Crew

Watching the excavation

A pipped egg

Look at these!! Double and triple eggs!!

Close up of the oddities

Final count

Friday, September 16 Inventory Nest 17

Today we inventoried Nest 17 located at Marker 6. This nest was laid on
July 3 and never showed signs of emerging. So, on day 75 we dug up the
nest. Students from Coastal Carolina assisted. We found 16 hatched eggs
and 88 unhatched eggs in a very deep nest.  There were no live or dead
hatchlings. 

Results

Students from Coastal Carolina -thank you!!

Monday, September 12 Inventory Nest 21

Monday, September 12 inventory of Nest 21
This nest was laid on July 12 near marker 4 and
emerged on September 9, day 59 of incubation.
The Monday walkers dug up the nest and counted
the eggs. 110 hatched and 4 unhatched, 2 dead 
hatchlings. Almost 96 % hatch success!!
Our best nest yet!! Good work, Monday Walkers!!
Pictures by Leslie
Post by Paulette

Sandy and Kim dug deep!!

Shirley sorted and counted

Nest #22

Although we often see beautiful sunrises, today's was absolutely stunning (thank you Leslie for sharing).

Red sun in the morning...

Nest #22 near the overturned boat was inventoried: just below the surface we found a hatchling. It had a deformed right flipper and wasn't able to make it out of the nest. With a little help from friends, it was finally able to make it to the water and start the big swim.

Right flipper undersized

Hard work pays off

Of the 119 eggs originally laid, 92 were hatched, 26 unhatched and one was taken as the DNA sample. No dead hatchlings and two live ones were counted for a 71% hatch success ratio. Not bad!

Thanks, Leslie for sharing your pictures.

Barb

Friday, September 9 Emergence

Friday, Sept. 9 Nest 21 emerged!!
The Friday walkers were delighted to see tiny turtle
tracks leaving Nest 21!! Day 59 of incubation.

Wednesday September 7 activity

Wednesday, September 7
Nest 22 emerged!! Day 52!!
Nest 21 has a ghost crab hole
over the nest cavity. We found
a single hatchling track leading
away from the hole. More tomorrow!!
 Pictures by Leslie and Paulette
Post by Paulette

Nest 22 crater and tracks

Tracks in wet sand

Can you see them?

Nest 21 has a single track.

Friday, September 2 Inventory Nest 19

Our Friday walkers braved the rain to check nests and
inventory Nest # 19 before the rain became too heavy.
Nest # 19 emerged on August 30, Day 53 of incubation.
We found 55 hatched eggs
44 unhatched eggs, two of those were pipped. No hatchlings
dead or alive.  54% success.
We didn't make many pictures due to the rain. 
Steve H., Arlene, Leslie, Keela, Jingle, Larry and our
guest SCDNR rep, Caitlyn, were thoroughly soaked!!
Thanks for the two pictures, Leslie
Posted by Paulette

Inventory Nest 19

Nest # 20 with crab hole and two empty shells