Friday, September 17

Thursday Night:

  • Nest #71 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-0
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-0
    • Unhatched Eggs-20
    • Hatched Egg Shells-94
    • Team 8 would like to thank their family, friends, Ambassadors and especially the Junior Ambassadors for helping to make it a wonderful season!
  • Nest #79 had 3 more hatchlings emerge around 8:00pm.

Friday Morning:

  • Nest #74 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-0
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-0
    • Unhatched Eggs-3
    • Hatched Egg Shells-50
    • Team 3 is THRILLED with these results as this nest was in the overwash zone.  They worked hard to keep the water off the top of the nest, but it did come around both sides.  We aren’t sure when those turtles emerged, it could have been during a rain storm at the time of high tides, possibly even before the tides threatened.  Great work, Team 3!
  • Nest #77 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-1
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-0
    • Unhatched Eggs-5 (they opened one and the embryo was malformed and had growths on it’s back)
    • Hatched Egg Shells-125

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Thursday, September 16

Wednesday Night:

  • We have a sad inventory to report.  Nest #76 was heavily over washed in the storm tides last week.  They saw 1 hatchling emerge on Saturday night.  Sadly, that was the only living hatchling.  Our team did everything they could to protect the nest and tried to remove the added sand that was washed in and over.  The power of the water was too strong.  Thanks, Team 4 for all of your hard work!
    • Live Hatchlings-0 at Inventory
    • Dead Hatchlings-45
    • Pipped Eggs-28
    • Unhatched Eggs+37
    • Hatched Egg Shells-45 
  • Did you see the SpaceX rocket launch?

Thursday Morning:

Nests #71 & #74 had crab holes. No other nest activity overnight.

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Wednesday, September 15

Tuesday Night:

Team 8 was alerted to a hatchling found in a tidal pool.  Poor little guy must have been washed back in from a morning inventory.  He was placed in a bucket to rest and released near the water on a quiet area of the beach. Thanks to the visitors who found the little guy!

Nest #81 developed a deep hole at about 7:00 pm.  105 hatchlings boiled a little after 8:00 and we’re in the water within minutes. 

Nest #79 dropped at about 8:39 pm. The turtles poked their heads and flippers out a bit for over 2.5 hours.  They finally boiled àt 11:08 with 103 hatchlings walking quickly to the ocean in 7 minutes!  The moon was perfect to lead their way!

Wednesday Morning:

  • Crabs in Nests #58, #82, #74 ,#76.
  • Nest #77 looks to have more movement under the sand.
  • Nest #79 had 4-5 more hatchlings emerging overnight.  

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Tuesday, September 14

Monday Night:  Thankful for a brighter moon!

  • Nest #46 Inventory was very sad.  We hope they were unfertilized eggs!  They were all light orange-bright pink.Unhatched Eggs-113 (all)
  • Nest #78 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-6
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-1
    • Unhatched Eggs-13
    • Hatched Egg Shells-84

Tuesday Morning:

  • Nest #75 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-4
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-2
    • Unhatched Eggs-11
    • Hatched Egg Shells-97
  • Nest #77 boiled overnight and had 1 lone straggler that Morning Patrol and a few beach walkers for to see.

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Monday, September 13

Sunday Night (Beautiful, cool evening!):

  • Nest #67 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-0
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-0
    • Unhatched Eggs-2
    • Hatched Egg Shells-104
  • Nest #69 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-1
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-0
    • Unhatched Eggs-4
    • Hatched Egg Shells-124
  • Nest #73 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-0
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-1
    • Unhatched Eggs-17
    • Hatched Egg Shells-102

Monday Morning:

  • Nest #71 hatched overnight with LOTS of tracks leading to the water!
  • Nest #74 had a large crab hole, crab still hanging around, and some hatchling tracks mixed in with the crab tracks.  (First emergence)

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Sunday, September 12

Saturday Night:

It was dark and buggy last night for most teams sitting.  Nest #76 had one hatchling emerge at about 9:00 pm, giving Team 4 some hope for the rest of the nest!

Sunday Morning:

The Buggy (Turtlemobile) decided to give Joy and Kathleen problems this morning as they arrived near the Golf Course beach.  Tom Waite saved the day by coming and checking it out.  There was a loose connection to the battery.  Thanks, Tom!!

  • Nest #73 had one more hatchling emerge overnight.
  • Nest #78 had 2-3 more hatchlings emerge overnight.

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Saturday, September 11

Friday Night:

  • Nest #72 Inventory (way up on the dune)
    • Live Hatchlings-0
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-0
    • Unhatched Eggs-4
    • Hatched Egg Shells-91
  • The sunset was beautiful, but the bugs were active.

Saturday Morning:

Nest #75 hatched overnight with lots of tracks.  The tide was fairly high, but the turtles went west after they exited the runway.  A good number made it to the tidal area 30 yards or so west, others went towards the lights of the houses nearby with some turning back towards the water.  They took the long road for sure!
No other activity.  The tide was not as high as the previous night! 

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Friday, September 10

Thursday Night:

Nest #69 had a hole at 7:15.  It boiled at 7:30 and with 118 hatchlings walking straight into the ocean by 7:45!  Team 2 is thrilled to have finally experienced a textbook boil!  They had a very nice and respectful crowd to witness the event!
Many greens were repaired and sand removed from runways and nest tops from the high tide damage.  The cold front moved in quickly and threatened more rain.

  Friday Morning:

Nest #78 boiled overnight with LOTS of tracks leading to the high tide line!  Some went to the side, but still made it to the water.  
Nests #46, #58, #74 had small crab holes. Nests #76 & #81 have additional sand build up that needs to be removed.

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Thursday, September 9

Wednesday Night:

Nest #67 hatched at 8:16. There were 98 hatchlings with the help of Ambassadors Margot and Gary.
The tide was very high again with several nests over washed.  The lightning and rain sent everyone home.
Thursday Morning:

We have a very flat beach this morning.  The tide was higher than any of our King Tides this season.
Nest #73 looks like it hatched with a good number of hatchlings.  The # of tracks were hard to see due to the rain drops and wind marks.  It must have been at the time of the highest tide because the beach below the high tide line was very smooth.
Nest #78 has a crack and a small indentation.Nests #58 & #81 had crab holes (not in center).Nests #58, #76, #80, #81, #85 and Nesting Site 2 were over washed.

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)

Wednesday, September 8

Tuesday Night: The tide was brutal last night and will be again tonight.  Thank you for all your efforts to protect your nests!  There is only so much we can do.

  • Nest #70 boiled at 7:05 pm with 58 hatchlings.  The tide then came in and eventually inundated the nest cavity.  Once the water reached the nest, permission was granted for an emergency excavation.  Fortunately, no hatchlings remained in the nest as water did reach the bottom.  Thanks go to Team 7 for their emergency assistance.
  • Nest #70 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-0
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-2 (they died before the water inundation)
    • Unhatched Eggs-17
    • Hatched Egg Shells-62

Wednesday Morning:

Despite all efforts, Nests #58. #76, #80, #85 and the large Nesting Site were overwashed last night and again this morning.  It was out of our control.We will hope for the best!

  • Nest #68 Inventory
    • Live Hatchlings-0
    • Dead Hatchlings-0
    • Pipped Eggs-0
    • Unhatched Eggs-11
    • Hatched Egg Shells- 143

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST03)