Waties Island Turtle Watch

Tuesday, September 3rd - Nest 14 Emerged

Just a beautiful cool morning on the beach this morning.

As we walked up the beach checking the remaining nests, we were welcomed with hatchling tracks coming from Nest 14. Nest 14 is one of our natural nests, laid on July 6th, emerged on day 59. She laid her nest high and dry, but it was in the area of the beach that really was impacted by blowing sand. This nest has been cleared of feet of sand several times over the incubation season. We even put up sand fences to help redirect the blowing sand. Last Monday, the Lead and several volunteers moved about 2 1/2 feet off of the top of the nest. The Monday Volunteers did report a depression

We were blessed in spotting two hatchlings heading to the ocean. We walked down and got to watch these two hatchling enter the water. They may not of been paying attention to hear the "Lets go" signal.

One our way back, we spotted another hatchling heading to the water, so we got to see three stragglers make it from the nest to the ocean - long trip from the nest to the water.

Good Luck little ones . . . .

Text and pictures by Leslie P

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance with SCDNR Permit Number MTP500.

Sunday, September 01 - Nest 13R Emerged

Another gorgeous but hot morning on the island today - a view we never get tired of seeing.

It was a quiet morning until we walked to Nest 13R - it has emerged and there were lots of hatchling tracks heading to the ocean.

Nest 13R was laid on July 6th and in an area that did not have much beach. This nest was relocated to a safer place on the island - the volunteers moved and relocated 97 eggs. This nest emerged on day 57. The inventory will be this Wednesday.

Lots of hatchling tracks heading to the ocean.

Text by Leslie P Pictures by Erin D

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance with SCDNR Permit Number MTP500.

Hate losing the daylight . . . .

Welcome to September! Yet another sign that fall is quickly approaching is the loss of daylight this month. We'll lose roughly an hour of daylight between today and September 30th. Break out the pumpkin spice!
😂🎃🍁

A great place to visit - nice day trip

"Happily we bask in this warm September sun, which illuminates all creatures." -Henry David Thoreau, But for us it illuminates sea turtles! During the month of September we are open Thursdays-Sundays from 11 AM-2 PM beginning Thursday, September 5, 2024. Don't delay in purchasing tickets as we sell out every day we are open to the public. We hope to see you soon!



This conservation work for protected sea turtles at and on Topsail Island is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 24ST05

One of my favorite photos by Tanya Ackerman. She was in Pawleys Island and had the pleasure of capturing four baby sea turtles on their journey to the ocean to begin their new lives. The one dude on the right looks to be waving so long to everyone. Good luck little ones.

Saturday, August 31, 2024. Inventory of Nest 20

It was as very nice morning. Slight breeze and no bugs.

We had about 13 students from Coastal Carolina University's Sea Turtle Club come to the beach to help with this nest inventory.

Nest 20 is one of our "Undetected Nest" or what we call a "Wild Nest". This nest was discovered by the Wednesday volunteers on August 28th. She laid her nest high on the slope of the dune, high and dry. This egg chamber was very deep, 25 inches - lots of blown sand on top of this nest.

The results of this nest inventory
- 50 hatched eggs, 31 Unhatched, 1 Dead hatchling, 1 Live hatchling.
This nest emerged on Day 59, and had a 61.7% Hatched Success.

We used the dead hatchling to do the DNA sample, and we used another flipper to do a Paternity study DNA sample.

Text - Jackie Andrews and Leslie P
Pics - Jackie Andrews and Leslie P

Waites Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance with SCDNR Permit Number MTP500.

Pics from the CCU Sea Turtle Club whi had a wonderful visit to Waties Island yesterday morning

Sharing a picture from Ed P, and the Garden City sea turtle Sea Turtle Patrol

A baby loggerhead turtle leaves its nest in Garden City heading for its no home in the vast ocean. Good luck little buddy. Thanks for sharing this Lee Ann Siranni Thomas

Did you know. . .

🐢✨Did you know that sea turtles have a special feature called a caruncle? This tiny, hard structure located on the hatchlings’ snouts helps them break free from their eggs! 🥚🌊

After just a few days, it falls off, but it plays a crucial role in helping these little warriors make their way to the ocean for the first time. Let’s celebrate these amazing creatures and protect their habitats! 🐢❤️

Looks the royal order of Roseate Spoonbills is hosting their confection at Huntington Beach State Park! Great 📸 Chuck Lawhon.

Sunday, August 25th- Inventory of Nest 12R

It was another cool morning and the breeze kept the bugs away.

The Sunday team was very excited to have the inventory of nest 12R because they found the original nest and relocated it back on June 30th. The original nest was laid too close to the jetty and there was not much beach to protect the eggs. When they relocated the nest, they moved 109 eggs to a much safer location.

Billie Jo, Tammy, Jan and her granddaughter Greenlee dug the nest up and got the egg shells out for sorting, while Karen, Kathy and Kim sorted through the eggs.

There were quite a few hatched egg shells found before the exciting moment of finding 3 live hatchlings. Overall the results were: 90 hatched, 14 unhatched & 3 live hatchlings. The nest had a 82.5% hatch success and 78.8% emergence success.

After all the eggs were gone through, the whole group walked the hatchlings down to the wet sand and let them go.

We all watched as they navigated their way to the ocean while using their natal homing instincts to take note of where they came from.

Narrative by Erin

Photos by Leslie and Erin.

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance with SCDNR permit number MTP500.

🪹 The nesting chronicles 🪹

The Big Trek

The trek to the sea is not as straightforward as you might think. To a hatchilng, a single person’s footprint on the beach can be a serious obstacle to be overcome in its quest to reach the water. On their way to the water, they may come upon predators such as crabs, birds, coyotes, and raccoons. Once they reach the water, here in NC, hatchlings need to swim 30 - 50 miles to reach the Sargasso Sea. They will stay in the Sargasso Sea for the first few years of their life before venturing off to shallower waters.