Author: Caswell Turtle Watch

Thursday Night:

The higher than normal tide, almost full moon and Hurricane Earl made for a ‘Perfect Storm’ event. Last night’s tide was higher than some of our King Tides. We had enormous help from the community last night reporting over washes and collecting washed away green! Thanks to all the Turtle Ambassadors!!! Unfortunately, tonight is supposed to be a bit higher.

5 nests were slightly over washed (#78, #83, #86, #91 & #92), but hopefully will be ok. They have not hatched yet, so we could not excavate.

2 nests had their scheduled excavations as the water was covering the nest or in the runway. 1 other nest that had hatched was emergency excavated with approval by the State. Water had reached the nest. All had excellent stats!

• NEST #66 INVENTORY (72+ hours)
  • Live: 0
  • Dead: 0
  • Pipped: 1
  • Unhatched: 5
  • Hatched Shells: 85
• NEST #77 INVENTORY (72+ hours)
  • Live: 4
  • Dead: 0
  • Pipped: 4
  • Unhatched: 13
  • Hatched Shells: 94
  • Pieces: handful
• NEST #70 INVENTORY (Emergency)
  • Live: 0
  • Dead: 0
  • Pipped:: 0
  • Unhatched: 4
  • Hatched Shells: 100
• Pieces: handful

Friday Morning:

We had to do a walking brigade today (because of the incoming tide) to check on the nests.

There were no hatchling emergences overnight.

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

We have been accused of lying to visitors about a nest that had a crab hole on the morning of 9/6. An announcement was made by a non-permitted group that the nest had an indention. The visitors came to the nest that evening and were told the truth. The place that was indented was where the crab hole was. The team sat with that nest until very late and went home when nothing happened.

Sometime during the night the nest hatched. The place where the turtles emerged was inches in front of the crab hole indention.

We are very discouraged by the accusations that were made. We do not know when a nest is going to hatch and would not send anyone away from sitting with us.

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Wednesday Night:  Rainy periods with lightning and a water spout over the ocean.

Nest #76 had one more hatchling emerge while the team was sitting.

Thursday Morning:  Cool, but biting flies were present!

There was no evidence of hatchling emergence overnight.  There were rain drops of course.

Nest #76 had a crab hole and one shell had been removed.

Nest #86 had a crab hole which indented the center of the nest.  It is only on Day 47, so it is doubtful that turtles are ready to emerge.

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Tuesday Night: Cool and quiet night!

• NEST #63 Inventory
  • Live: 2
  • Dead: 0
  • Pipped: 0
  • Unhatched: 4
  • Hatched Shells: 114
  • Pieces: just a few

Nest #74 (Day 57) had hatchlings emerge between 8:45-9:00.  They very quickly headed to the water!

Wednesday Morning;

WOW!  They waited for everyone to go home and BOOM, 3 more nests hatched! 

Nests #70 (Day 58) , #72 (Day 58) and #79 (Day 52) had hatchlings emerge overnight.  Unfortunately, #79’s hatchlings were very disoriented after they left the runway 

Nest #74 had 1 more hatchling overnight.

Whew!!

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Monday Night:  It was a pleasant night out there!

• Nest #64 Inventory
  • Live- 0
  • Dead- 0
  • Pipped- 0
  • Unhatched Eggs- 6
  • Hatched Egg Shells- 77
  • Pieces- 3 handfuls
• Nest #67 Inventory
  • Live- 0
  • Dead- 0
  • Pipped- 0
  • Unhatched Eggs- 3
  • Hatched Egg Shells- 90
  • Pieces- 1 handful
• Nest #71 Inventory
  • Live- 0
  • Dead- 0
  • Pipped- 0
  • Unhatched Eggs- 1
  • Hatched Egg Shells- 81
  • Pieces- Just a few
• Nest #76 had hatchlings emerge (Day 53) at 9:43 pm heading straight for the water!  

Tuesday Morning: very quiet and peaceful!

Nest #77 had a few more hatchlings emerge overnight.

Nest # 72 had crab activity again.

Thank you again for your hard work and commitment!

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Happy Labor Day!  Hope you are able to relax from your labors!

Sunday Night:

It was quiet with a nice light breeze and a beautiful moon later in the evening.  We had a lot of nice visitors at the nests east of the Lighthouse.  They didn’t get to see anything, but they were educated on the turtles and our program!

Monday Morning:

Nests #66 (Day 59) and #77(Day 52) both had turtles emerge overnight.  Nest #66 had no indications of activity last night and Nest #77 had had a crater for a few days.

Nests #72 and #74 both had crab holes.

20 more nests left to hatch!!!  Hang in there!

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Saturday Night:

• Nest #59 Inventory (We had a large and respectful crowd!)
  • Live- 3
  • Dead-3
  • Pipped – 3
  • Unhatched- 5
  • Hatched Egg Shells-91

Nest #63 had one more very late arrival.

A fisherman on the Ft. Caswell fishing pier found a hatchling in the river current.  He very smartly took it to the ocean side beach and released it!  That is the 4th hatchling spotted from that pier in 3 nights.  We have no idea where they are coming from as we have checked our river beach.  I may have to take another walk today, just to make sure! 

Sunday Morning:

It was quiet overnight except for the crabs. 

Nests #67, #71, #76 and #77 all had crab holes!

Hoping the breeze picks up a little more and the bugs go far away tonight! 

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Friday Night (Buggy again!):

Nests #71 and #63 both had hatchlings emerge with teams and visitors braving the bugs to cheer them on!

Saturday Morning:

Nests #59, #64, #69 & #73 had additional hatchling tracks in the runways this morning.

• Nest #69 Inventory
  • Live- 16
  • Dead- 1
  • Pipped- 4
  • Unhatched- 3
  • Hatched Egg Shells- 120
• Nest #73 Inventory
  • Live- 13 (3 were Pipped Live)
  • Dead- 0
  • Pipped- 13
  • Unhatched- 12
  • Hatched Egg Shells- 100
  • The pipped live and dead had thick yellow goop still inside the egg shells.  1 had maggots.  The 3 pipped live were rinsed off with sea water and put on the sand to crawl to the ocean.  Very strange situation!

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Thursday Night:

Nest #67 had hatchlings emerge at a very fast pace!

3 hatchlings were seen in the current at the Ft. Caswell Pier.  The beach was checked and no nest was found.  The tide was coming in, so they could have washed in from Bald Head or from Nests #67.  Tough break!

Friday Morning:

Nest #59 had lots of crab activity and 1 head hatchling.

Nest #64 had a few more tracks in the runway.

Nest #69 had a large crab hole.

Nest #77 still just has a small depression.

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).

Wednesday Night:

Nice night out there last night!

Team 5 called about finding Nest #77 with a drop and small crater.  IT WAS ONLY ON DAY 47!!!  They helped out Team 7 by adding the green, just in case and keeping an eye on it for a while.  Whew!  Thanks Team 5!

Team 9 assisted members of the Sea Biscuit team in the rescue of an ill juvenile pelican.  Poor thing was very leery of getting some assistance.  Brian had to climb the cedar tree and lure it with some fish!  Way to go, Team 9! 

Thursday Morning:

Quiet and still this morning with calm waters!

#64 had 2 hatchlings emerge overnight.

#69 had 2 crab holes.

#73 had a big crab hole.

#77 had not changed overnight.

Green has been delivered up to the high 80’s.  Since Nest #77 has a small crater, we should consider greening all nests in the 70’s today or tomorrow.

Thank you again for your commitment to our turtles!  These overlapping nests are tough!  There are 25 unhatched nests at this time. 

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST03).