Thursday, August 8

WHEW!  Turtles are popping up all over!

Crabs at nests 40 and 34

More hatchling tracks at 36 (1), 30 (several), 35 (1), 39 (1), 38 (more)

Wild nest #101 located at 601 walkway. 

We have had hatchling tracks all over the area so I went out this morning to attempt locating.  When I found nest 101, the dig in stirred the hatchlings and we had a boil.  There were so many that we put down green and built a runway.  Best count was more than 70 emerged.  With all the prior tracks and this number, we decided to excavate.  119 shells, 8 unhatched, 9 pipped and 15 more live ones in the nest.  With that many still in the nest, there must be another wild nest in the area.  There are just too many tracks.

Last night:

  • Nest 40 boiled around 8:00 with 59 turtles and some really excited visitors
  • Nest 30 boiled at 10:00 with 102 hatchlings
  • Nest 35 boiled @ 11:57 with 101 hatchlings
  • Nest 38 had 1 more hatchling
  • Inventory nest 26 – 121 shells, 6 unhatched and 2 live hatchlings

Wednesday, August 7

Morning patrol had lots of news this morning:

  • The most exciting was that nest 38 boiled just as they pulled up.  65 hatchlings made it to the water. 
  • Nest 27 had a lot more hatchlings
  • Nest 29 boiled during the night and they were everywhere but visitors on the beach corralled them to the water.
  • Nest 36 hatched during the night.
  • Nest 39 more hatchling tracks
  • Nest 38 boiled this morning.
  • Nest 40 had 2 hatchling tracks outside the green
  • Nest 44 has a crevice
  • Nest 18 and 46 had crab holes

Not sure what’s up with nest 18 (65 days) but Team 2 gets the “Most Dedicated” award.  It could still happen.  Unlike nest 18, nests are starting to hatch at 50 and 51 days, especially the relocated nests.  We probably need to move our green day back to 48 days.  Again, if you need help just let us know.  The tide has receded so be sure you get as close to the high tide line as is comfortable.

Last night:

  • Nest 39 boiled around 11 with 65 turtles
  • Inventory nest 31 – 130 shells, 6 unhatched, 1 pipped, 1 dead and 10 live hatchlings
  • Inventory nest 33 –  96 shells, 10 unhatched, 20 pipped, 3 dead and 20 live hatchlings

Monday, August 5

Morning Patrol:

  • Nest 81 – fox dug in but just barely 
  • Nest 46 – crab hole
  • More hatchlings in 33 and 100
  • Nest 91 overwashed
  • Nest 26 had a dead hatchling in the runway this morning.  Looked like crab bite. 

Last night:

  • Nest 26 caved in at 9:45 and boiled at 10:35 with 109 hatchlings
  • Nest 33 had 55 emerge at 9:10, then 1 more at 11ish.
  • Inventory nest 22- 87 shells, 9 unhatched, 2 pipped and 1 dead hatchling

Sunday, August 4

No new nest, no new crawls.  We have 100 nests and 75 are still incubating.  I’m exhausted and I’m not even out there every night.  Hang in there and let us know when you need a break.

Nest 31 hatched last night at 51 days so now we’ve had 2 @51 days, 2@52 days and emergence @48 days.  Be sure to put green out at least by day 50.  I believe green has been delivered up to nest 44.  If you need more, let me know.  In case of emergency, look at the nests near you.

Nests overwashed: 22, 50, 84, 94, 62, 91 and 71

Water in the runway at 27 and 29

Nest 69 was wet

Nest 46 lost 15 more eggs to fox.  51 was dug slightly.  They will be covered today.

Nest 31 had 1 more hatchling this morning.

Nest 100 had 2/3 more emerge during the night.

Last night inventory:

Nest 21- 77 shells and 8 unhatched

Nest 28 – 109 shells, 9 unhatched, 1 pipped and 2 live hatchlings

Saturday, August 3

Morning patrol:

A fox dug into nests 46 and 51.  It didn’t get to the eggs on 46 but big crab track on the side.  51 had 2 eggshells on the surface.

Overwash at nests 37, 50, and 91

Hatchling tracks in 33 (1 or 2), 28 (couple of tracks)

Nest 31 had a crevice

Last night:

Volunteers watching a hatchling making its way at nest 33 had a huge surprise.  Nest #100 was boiling between nests 33 and 60.  Yes, another wild nest that produced 118 very misoriented hatchlings.  They were determined to go backwards and west.  Thank you Jamie, Wanda and a very helpful visitor for being there.

Inventory nest 15: 83 shells, 5 unhatched, 2 dead and 1 live

Inventory nest 17: 130 shells, 5 unhatched, 3 pipped and 2 live

Friday, August 2

The tide will still be high the next couple of days but I think we are past the worst as long as the wind cooperates.  Thank you for looking after our nests and each other.

Morning Patrol:

Nest #22 hatched and 3 hatchlings were still in the runway this morning

Nest #33 had 1 hatchling emerge

Nests #28 had more hatchlings

Nests 21, 39, 65 and 69 had crab tracks

Nesting site 2 flooded, NS 2 is fine

Last night:

Nest 37 was under water again but the others did okay thanks to volunteers and our volunteer families that helped us keep the water away.

Nest 22 had 2 teenagers that were determined to keep the water away and a couple of the volunteers from team 9 took care of nest 59.

Inventories:

Nest #23- 109 shells, 13 unhatched 4 pipped and 17 live hatchling

Thursday, August 1

Morning Patrol:

Foxes discovered nest #99 today.  Shells were strewn on the beach; we believe there were about 20 shells.  3 eggs that were in the nest were spilt with embryo still inside but plenty of white unaffected eggs still in the nest.  We marked it as nest 99 and covered it with the wire cover.  It is located between Sellers and Mercer just west of #47.

Fox tracks around 47, 85 and 18 but just tracks.

Nest #37 was underwater for the second night. 

Nest #59 got a slight overwash.

Nests 51 and 73 had crab holes.

Nest #21 had lots of hatchling tracks.

Nest #17 and #28 each had a few more hatchling btracks

Last night:

Teams 7 and 10 made gallant efforts to keep the water off their nests but you cannot stop the ocean…no matter how hard you try.

Because of the water coming over nests #24 which had already hatched team #10 tried to excavate and released 4 hatchlings. It was inventoried this morning with 115 shells, 10 unhatched, 3 pipped and 41 dead hatchlings.

Nest #25 was at 53 days and by NCWRC direction we dug as best we could to see if hatchlings had started emergence.  35 live hatchlings were allowed to wake up on the beach and make their way into the water.  It was inventoried this morning with 62 shells, 49 unhatched and 25 dead hatchlings.

Nest #28 hatched around 9:42, more a little later totaling 88.  More tracks in the runway this morning. 

Tonight will be the highest tide yet. Nests 22, 99, 50, 84, 94 and 62 are all in danger of being overwashed. Let us know what you see.

Inventories:

Nest #19- 110 shells, 11 unhatched and 1 live hatchling

Wednesday, July 31

Morning Patrol:

  • No new nest, no false crawls
  • Nest #24, 23, 28 and 19 had crab holes

Last night:

  • Nest #24 had 6 more hatchlings at 9:15
  • Nest #15 hatched around 11:45 with 77 hatchlings (58 days)
  • Nest # 17 boiled @10:40 with 127 hatchlings  (59 days)
  • Nest #37 was underwater during the high tide.
  • Nest #59 was overwashed.
  • Be on the lookout tonight and let us know what you see.  The tides are increasing through tomorrow 

Inventories:

  • Nest #13- 93 shells, 11 unhatched, 2 pipped, 1 dead and 5 live hatchlings
  • Nest #20- 122 shells, 4 unhatched, 15 pipped, 4 dead and 34 live hatchlings

Tuesday, June 30

Morning Patrol:

  • No new nest, no false crawls and no fox disturbance, tracks but no invasion.
  • Nest #19 had 1 more hatchling
  • Nest #23 hatched with lots of tracks
  • Nest #24 had more hatchlings during the night

Last night:

  • Nest #24 boiled @9:10 with 51 hatchlings
  • Nest #33 had a dimple and crack @ only 45 days.  Betty and some visitors helped team 6 gather and put down green 

Inventories:

  • After speaking with Matthew, we decided it best to go ahead and excavate the 2 nest that had hatchlings before another night.
  • Nest #7- 17 shells, 96 unhatched, 7 live hatchlings
  • Nest #16- 102 shells, 16 unhatched, 6 live hatchlings