Monday, August 14- Inventory of Nest 2R

                              ***WARNING: CUTENESS OVERLOAD AHEAD…

 Nest 2R has provided volunteers and guests with repeated good feels from it’s inception to today’s wrap up activities. 

A hot and humid, but beautiful and breezy morning as our Monday volunteers completed their survey of the beach checking our incubating nests. All looked good, undisturbed, and peacefully doing their thing.

On the return trip, they were met by additional volunteers to complete the inventory of Nest 2R. This nest was laid on June 16th, and our Friday volunteers had the privilege of  observing mamma finishing up covering the nest and heading back to the ocean. They watched in awe as she made her return to the water. She was big, and she was beautiful.  Very rare treat indeed!

Because the newly laid nest was just at the high tide line, it was relocated further up toward the dune. The clutch contained 150 eggs! With three found broken within the nest, 147 eggs were re-homed.

The nest had some ghost crab issues early on, but their activity was minimized through installation of a screen. It was caged at 45 days. 

On Friday, August 11, at 56 days, volunteers observed a textbook emergence- a clear exit hole from the nest chamber with lots of nicely spread out hatchling tracks heading into the sea. Today, three days following the emergence, we got to dig into the chamber to monitor he success of the nest.

Leslie provided volunteers and guests with a brief history of the nest and reminds us of the procedures involved in completing the inventory. The various tasks are assigned, giving everyone an opportunity to participate.

The chamber was quickly located and eggs, both hatched and unhatched, were excavated and passed on to those assigned to sorting and counting. 

                                                               A total team effort!

We had not been digging long when movement and a tiny flipper was observed within the cavity. All were thrilled to see this sweet hatchling, full of life, rescued from the nest. 

Then there was another….and another.. and …

Before the nest was emptied, 23 robust hatchlings, eager to continue their journey, were lifted from the chamber.

Nest results were as follows: 115 eggs hatched, 28 unhatched, 0 dead hatchlings, 23 live -and vigorous - hatchlings. Hatch success 76.6%. Emergence success 61.3%. 

Finally, it was time to take these babies closer to the water for their release. Lots of photo opps on the way.

And off they go! 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 mammas to return to their natal beach when they reach maturity. 

While getting out of the nest is usually a cooperative effort, crawling to the sea is a race -it’s every turtle for himself herself. 

                                                                 Bye- see y’all later!

God’s speed little ones. What a grand adventure awaits. See you in 25 years❤️

Photos: group effort, narrative by Kim **Note, many of you took great photos and videos today not displayed here. I couldn’t get any video over 5 seconds to post. As Leslie has noted, per DNR, you are permitted to post your pics to social media to share this great experience with others as long as the below permit wording is included in your post🔽

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