Just sharing some news from Michelle Pate, SCDNR. The first nest hatching in South Carolina was reported on Saturday, July 11 from Kiawah Island - it was their #3 insitu nest, laid on May 6th. This nest incubated for 66 days. It was neck and neck with the possibility that a Seabrook Nest would fully emerge before, but the accolades goes to the Kiawah Island this year. Sending our Congratulations!
On Waties our first nest was laid on May 19th, the same as our first nest in 2019. This nest is 55 days old today. In 2019 our first nest emerged on day 64, so if we use this as a comparison, our Nest #1, as some time yet. As you all know, these nests do not emerge in order, in 2019 our #2 nest emerged before Nest #1. Nest #2 emerged on day 57. Our patrol leaders will be watching our nests closely.
As the norm for Waties, we are still having issues with Ghost Crabs getting into our nests. Currently, they are targeting our newer nests #11 and #12. Our #12 nest was laid Friday and the little pesky Ghost Crabs have already robbed the nest of two eggs. We have already caught 2 Ghost Crabs by Nest #12. Nest #11 lost two eggs today, so traps have been placed there. Earlier, we had issues with Nest #7, but we caught about 13 Ghost Crabs in our traps, so this nest has been quiet since we caught the perpetrators.
Hoping this finds you well - Leslie
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