Nest #10 Inventory Results

This morning Chris, Nancy and I headed out to the beach to dig up Nest 10.  We sort of wondered what we'd find after those big thunderstorms last night, but it was a beautiful morning on the beach.

Nancy and Chris starting to dig

One happy little turtle - bet she was glad we found her

Turtle gets some help
 getting to the water

This was a very lively turtle

That turtle needed our help getting out this morning

71 hatched, 19 unhatched

The nest had 101 eggs counting the one we took initially for the DNA study.










Nest #12 looks like it will be the next one to go:  see the ghost crab hole in the center...

Nest 12 could be next

and see the hatchling in the dunes?

This turtle was only a short distance from Nest 12

A big crab!

and see the culprit?











Chances are very good that this nest will emerge in the next day or so.

Barb

Sunday Update - New Emergence

The mosquitos and no-seeums were wicked this morning - not much breeze to keep them at bay.  Thanks to Dianne for remembering to bring some bug spray.  Saved the day.

Nest #11 emerged overnight with lots of tracks inside and outside the cage.  This is day 59 for this nest which is about average.  We'll be doing the inventory on Wednesday morning.

Nest 11 emerged overnight

Lots of tracks

Turtle tracks and ghost crabs too

Update on Nest #12 (which is only 50 days today) - we found two empty eggshells on the surface and a large ghost crab hole.  The crab hole is now filled in, but keep checking this one closely; this may be our next nest to hatch.

Busy ghost crabs...

Nest 12 egg shell on the surface

Nest 7, 8 and 9 - who knows?  No activity at Nest 7 at the jetty, Nest 8 has a small piece of egg shell on the surface, but no turtle tracks anywhere.  Nest 9, no reports of tracks either.

These birds are keeping an eye on Dr. Harding's research experiments

Barb and Steve

Inventory Results and New Emergence Today

Emerged at 61 days

The inventory of Nest #6 was conducted this morning with Arlene, Linda, Valerie, Dave, Nancy and Karen Fuss helping out.  This nest had a total of 98 eggs - 91 hatched, 5 were unhatched, 1 was used for the DNA study and a ghost crab (those pesky crabs!) got one at the end of July.

Nancy, Arlene and Linda sorting the contents of the nest

Recording the results

Burying the shells back in the nest cavity

But check this out!  Nest #10 emerged last night - 

Nest 10 emerged last night

We're be doing the inventory on Monday morning and everyone is welcome to participate.  Meet at the shed at 7 a.m. - see you there!

Barb and Steve

p.s. - Check out Valerie's morning fog photo - Beautiful!

Tuesday, August 16

 

                                                                    Another day in Paradise

                                                       Here comes the sun, little darlin'.

                                                     Mixed feelings about ghost crabs.....

                                                                      Love the colors.

                                                        See our friend the shark?

                                                            One shark--dorsal fin and tail

                                                            Again-love the colors.

                                                                        Kingfisher
                                                                                        Posted by Bill and Flossie Chapman

Inventory Results from Nest 5

This morning, Dave, Valerie, Seth and Amanda joined Steve and me to conduct an inventory on Nest 5 (incorrectly listed as Nest 6 initially).  The nest had been overwashed at least six times during high tides in June and July and never really exhibited the mass emergence that most nests do.  The ghost crabs were also particularly troublesome at this nest.

Sunday morning several hatchling tracks were noted, so after waiting the required three days, we dug up the nest.

Seth and Amanda starting to dig

Barb recording the outcome

32 hatched eggs; 36 unhatched

The nest had 32 hatched eggs and 36 unhatched.  No hatchlings, live or dead, were found in the nest.  One egg was taken initially for the DNA research project and a second egg was taken by a ghost crab in early July.  This gives us a total of 70 total eggs, somewhat smaller than an average clutch of 100 to 120.  

Thank you, Valerie, for taking these pictures.  More inventories coming up soon!

Barb

Nest 6 emergence 8-16-2011

New Video of Nest #4 Inventory

Everybody just loves a baby sea turtle!

Thanks for sharing your videos, Sarah.  They are great!

Barb and Steve