Winding Down 2022 - Caswell Beach Turtle Watch

Rather than a new post each day, this post will include the remaining activity for the season, listed from latest to earliest.

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

Inventories for last four nests:
- #90 Inventory
  - Live- 0
  - Dead- 0
  - Pipped- 0
  - Unhatched- 1
  - Hatched Egg Shells- 72
- #91 Inventory (slightly washed over)
  - Live- 1
  - Dead- 0
  - Pipped- 1
  - Unhatched- 19
  - Hatched Egg Shells- 37
- #92 Inventory
  - Live- 5
  - Dead- 0
  - Pipped- 0
  - Unhatched- 52 (tidal flooding)
  - Hatched Egg Shells- 10
- #93 Inventory
  - Live- 0
  - Dead- 0
  - Pipped- 0
  - Unhatched- 20 (beige, undeveloped)
  - Hatched Egg Shells- 46
- That’s a wrap! We will post DNA and final nest Stats as soon as they are compiled. SOME DNA is coming in now.

9/29/22
- Wednesday Night: Chilly and quiet!
  - No activity, WHILE WE WERE OUT…
  - (LuAnn went back to #92 looking for her misplaced phone and thought she saw hatchling tracks. It was too dark to be sure…)
- Thursday Morning:
  - BINGO, Nests #91 AND #92 HATCHED!!!
  - We are so relieved that ALL of our nests have hatched!!!
  - Emergency excavations will be done today on all nests prior to the heavy rains. Teams are making their decisions as I type.
  - I will send out Inventory results later today.
  - WHEW!

9/28/22
- Tuesday Night: Cool, but buggy! The sunset made it all worth the waiting!
  - No activity at any nest.
- Wednesday Morning:
  - No activity at #91 or #92.
  - Nests #90 & #93 had crab holes.
  - Keep those fingers and toes crossed for tonight!!!

9/27/22
- Monday Night: Nice and windy.
  - No activity while teams were out.
- Tuesday Morning:
  - Nest #93 had some hatchlings emerge overnight. One was still in the runway when Morning Patrol arrived! The tracks led straight to the water!

9/26/22
- Sunday Night: WINDY!
  - We got a bit sandblasted last night.
  - Nest #90 had some bumps, but no emergence until after the team had left for the night. The story of our summer!
- Monday Morning:
  - Nest #90 had hatchlings emerge overnight.
  - Nests #91, #92, #93 had no activity.
  - We will be keeping a close watch on Hurricane Ian and will be in contact with our State Coordinator as to action towards the end of the week. Fingers crossed!!!

9/25/22
- Saturday Night: It was clear for the Space X Rocket launch!
  - Teams reported no activity.
- Sunday Morning: Crisp and Cool!
  - Again, no activity overnight.

9/24/22
- Friday Night: BUGGY from 6:00-8:00
  - The tides are no longer threatening our remaining nests. We had many visitors hoping for some activity, but we were all disappointed. All in good time!
- Saturday Morning: Cool and pleasant (no bugs)
  - There was no activity overnight.
  - Maybe tonight?

9/23/22
- Thursday Night: No bugs, but rough waves and higher tides due to Fiona.
  - The tide washed up the runway of Nest #92, but appeared to just splash over. The sand was only wet to one inch below the surface.
  - The rain poured down after the tide receded.
- Friday Morning: The tide was thankfully not as high as last night.
  - We will have to be on watch early tonight!
  - There was no activity at the nests overnight.

9/22/22
- Wednesday:
  - Thanks to Lynn Maloney, LuAnn Dummer and Gail Burr for organizing, setting up and manning a Caswell Beach Turtle Watch table at the St. James Environmental Fair! Lynn, you outdid yourself with all the great handouts and goodies!
- Wednesday Night:
  - BUGGY again! Seems like we can’t catch a break, but Friday’s cool weather is coming!
- Thursday Morning:
  - No hatchling activity this morning
  - Nest #93 had a crab hole at the back right corner pole.
  - Nest #90- Day 57
  - Nest #91- Day 56
  - Nest #92- Day 54
  - Nest #93- Day 52

9/21/22
- Tuesday Night:
  - Very light breeze and buggy. The teams at the last 4 nests sat as long as they could!
- Wednesday Morning:
  - No activity at any nests overnight.

9/20/22
- Monday Night: BUGGY again
- Nest #82 Inventory
  - Live- 1
  - Dead- 0
  - Pipped- 0
  - Unhatched Eggs-6
  - Hatched Egg Shells- 101
  - Great results!
- Tuesday Morning:
- No activity at all.

9/19/22
- Things are certainly slowing down! Buggy and quiet last night and overnight.
- No activity to report this morning.

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