Events for Friends Hunting Island

baby turtles Friends of Hunting Island Turtle Photos:
2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting Season


Click the map for a larger version "Get Adobe Reader"			2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #62 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched 0% success Notes:

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #61 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:			2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #60 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #59 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #58 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #57 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:

			2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #56 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #55 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #54 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #53 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #52 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:


		Running Total as of 7/13/06 Number of Nests: 51 False Crawls: 76
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2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #51 Date it was laid: July 13 How many eggs: ? 120 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 26 - September 15 Success: Hatched9/3/06 29% success Notes: A good ways into zone 5 a nest was found snug in the dunes. She managed to make her way up the dune and make two body-pits, before deciding to make her egg-chamber next to a previous laid nest. No need to dabble with this nest, she had done her duties and done them well.		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #50 Date it was laid: July 12 How many eggs: ? 99 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 25 - September 14 Success: Hatched 9/3/06 75% success Notes: What we thought was doomed to be a false crawl, after Roger Talmage probed thoroughly for quite some time, Buddy Lawrence managed to stumble upon it. The nest was found quite a ways down, buried about 17 inches deep, and laid in the middle of her body pit. With a keen eye she must have scoped this spot out. It was far from the incoming tide and looked to be in a perfect incubating spot for a nest full of sea turtles. Nest #50 was a welcome addition to our beach.

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #49 Date it was laid: July 12 How many eggs: 118 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 25 - September 14 Success: Hatched 8/30/06 95% success Notes: Such a simple crawl and simple body-pit ended up being such a nice surprise for our Wednesday team. This only being their second nest of the summer, it was probed and found by Denise, our new addition to the turtle staff. It was relocated and placed next to a sister nest further back in the berm. Maureen and Michael Hynes, Randy Michelson, Vivian Wayne, and Roger Talmage were just a few of the Friends who witnessed their second nest. Congratulations!!!		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #48 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched 29% success Notes:

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #47 Date it was laid: July How many eggs: ? * eggs* Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August - September Success: Hatched success Notes:

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #46 Date it was laid: July 8 How many eggs: 147 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 21– September 10 Success: Hatched 9/1/06 78% success Notes: Holly Dolan put a valiant effort forth after probing in both tilled and renourished sand. After multiple digging attempts the nest was finally found outside of the actual body pit. Who would have thought that? Susan Reynolds and Evelyn Brooks then aided in the relocation of the nest, which meant closer to the maritime forest and further from the incoming tides.

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #44 Date it was laid: July 6 How many eggs: ? 97 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 19 - September 8 Success: Hatched 8/18/06 6% success Notes: This was a miracle nest. After tracks were found on the beach next to an old body pit, it was Buddy Lawrence who decided to probe the old nest. Just as he was deciding it was an empty, old false crawl, he found the egg chamber. This was a missed nest that was saved by a curious and helping hand.		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #45 Date it was laid: July 8 How many eggs: ? 89 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 21– September 10 Success: Hatched 8/27/06 84.2% success Notes: This nest was found at the far south end of zone 5. After cruising down the beach on my wheels, I was flagged down by a loyal family. They had spotted the turtle just after nesting and were up early in the morning to bring it to our attention. I decided to be on the safe side and probed what looked to be a false crawl (this is why you should never make assumptions). One probe was all it took and the nest was found. Laid in a perfect spot, it was quickly covered and labeled. A record nest, it only took 10 minutes to find and secure before we were on our way.

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nests #41 and #42 Date it was laid: July 3 How many eggs: #41 had 120 and #42 was not counted Relocated? #41 was relocated and #42 was not Date we expect it to hatch: August 16 - September 5 Success:#41 Hatched 8/21/06 - 71% success #42 Hatched 8/28/06 - 67% success Notes: The Millers, Redferns, and Buddy helped Laurel with both of these nests in zone 5 and 6. It was a busy morning with one average sized nest relocated and the other left as found. Chock another 2 up for the south end of the island!!!		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #43 Date it was laid: July 6 How many eggs: ? 77 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 19 - September 8 Success: Hatched 8/28/06 52% success Notes: Probing began after Dean Hewitt located what looked like a very busy looking crawl. With three body pits, one actually being from an old crawl, a nest was finally found. Dean put considerable effort into digging and looking for the eggs. It was another successful day!!!

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #39 Date it was laid: July 2 How many eggs: 124 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 15 - September 4 Success: Hatched 8/21/06 50% success Notes: Connie Haskell, Diane Voge, Anthony Baxter, Bobbie Grayson, and Pat Keown helped relocate this nest after finding it in zone 4. It was laid a little too close to the surface of the sand and so we decided to dig a deeper egg chamber to keep the crabs away. Hopefully this will do the trick!!!		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #40 Date it was laid: July 2 How many eggs: 115 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 15 - September 3 Success: Didn't hatch Notes: This nest was found just north of the campground and needed to be moved just slightly. With ghost crab holes and tidal pools to worry us, we relocated it to a section just up the beach. Bruce Wager probed, while the Stuarts and Wrights helped relocate. Thank you for your help that morning!!

		Running Total as of 7/1/06 Number of Nests: 38 False Crawls: 53

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #38 Date it was laid: July 1 How many eggs: ? 63 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 14 - September 3 Success: Hatched 8/18/06 81% success Notes: This nest proved to be a challenge as well. Ardena probed with diligence, however it took some probing by myself and then eventually Buddy Lawrence to locate the nest. She laid in the middle of old Spartina grass and managed to camouflage it just perfectly. What a good mom!!!
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2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #36 Date it was laid: June 30 How many eggs: ? 138 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 13-September 1 Success: Hatched 8/20/06 90% success Notes: We have no pictures of this nest, because the camera batteries died. But this turtle found a perfect spot on a high dune by the cabins. Thanks to James and Stephen Jones for finding this nest, all on your own! Staff was busy investigating a crawl by the Lighthouse, (which we determined was a false crawl after digging 8 holes.) What a good father and son team!		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #37 Date it was laid: July 1 How many eggs: ? 116 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 14-September 3 Success: Hatched 8/19/06 70% success Notes: Zone 5 had another busy morning. With three crawls on the beach, we were stretched thin and I managed to locate this nest and mark it, while the rest of the zone 5 team probed two other nests a little further up the beach. The nest was a little difficult to locate, but with a little patience the probe was swallowed by the air pocket just above the nest and the rest was history.

2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #34 Date it was laid: June 29 How many eggs: 165 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 12-September 1 Success: Hatched 8/25/06 7% success Notes: Our largest nest yet!!! She managed to crawl up the beach and lay just in front of the campground. Bill W. probed and located the nest while the rest of our zone 2 team did the dirty work. Tidal pools and possible high-tides seemed an obstacle for this healthy-sized nest, and so relocation seemed like the best option. Hopefully they will be safe now!!!		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #35 Date it was laid: June 30 How many eggs: 86 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 13-September 2 Success: Hatched8/20/06 92% success Notes: Our smallest nest, yet. Nest size tends to get smaller as the season progresses. At the beginning of the season, those turtles have a lot of eggs they want to get out! And they lay a lot at one time. So nests are usually really big at the start of the summer. However—our biggest nest was just laid yesterday, mid-season! You never can tell what those turtles will do. Thanks to Carolyn Westman, Nancy Swanson, and Penny Larson for relocating this nest and for digging 8 holes in attempt to find another nest, (turned out to be a false crawl.)

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #33 Date it was laid: June 27 How many eggs: ? 115 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 10-August 30 Success: Hatched 8/21/06 51% success Notes: This turtle decided to go the extra mile. She found her way up the beach and decided to march all the way around and through the grass until she found some nice soft sand to nest in. Regardless of her long trek, she still seemed to be light on her toes. As you can see from the picture, she had unusually clean tracks. You can also see the turnout for the unveiling of the eggs.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #32 Date it was laid: June 27 How many eggs: ? 124 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 10-August 30 Success: Hatched 8/24/06 75% success Notes: Tuesday’s group was graced with two more nests after only having one so far this season. Both nests were located in the heart of zone two and will have to be monitored closely around hatching time. Fallen Palmettos may test these little hatchlings as they make the march to the great sea. What a morning!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #31 Date it was laid: June 27 How many eggs: ? 124 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 9-August 29 Success: Hatched 8/20/06 98% success Notes: In route to retrieve more nest material, I spotted a very pleased zone 2 just north of the lighthouse. The Jorgensens and Tony Silvestri had located a nest of their own and were patiently awaiting the arrival of someone... anyone (the radios seem to lack the ability to transmit over long distances, which one could argue defeats their purpose). I unloaded the nest materials and they got to work. My presence was no longer needed. They were true pros!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #30 Date it was laid: June 26 How many eggs: ? 102 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 9-August 29 Success: Hatched 8/20/06 78% success Notes: This was another textbook nest. Although she went a little astray (off the beach and into the grass) in her pursuit to find a perfect spot for her eggs, she eventually found what she was looking for. It took little effort to locate the eggs and the Commandays and Laines were patient as I left to retrieve more materials to cover the nest. On my return, another storm was making its way in and we managed to cover and mark the nest just as the wind and rain arrived. Thanks for bearing the weather with me zone 4!
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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #29 Date it was laid: June 25 How many eggs: ? 116 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 8-August 28 Success: Hatched 8/17/06 45% success Notes: A third attempt was made to locate more nests after yesterday's abundance of crawls and unfortunate lack of time due to weather. Buddy Lawrence came up successful after probing in the general vicinity of old tracks in zone 5. Once again, the nest was in a perfect spot and we simply covered and marked the area (I think these turtles are getting the hang of it). However, even if the nest seemed to be in a precarious location, it would have been left unmoved. After 10-12 hours the eggs start their beginning stages of critical development and disturbing them could actually compromise the nest as a whole. Luckily, that wasn't an issue. I believe it's only appropriate to give credit to both Sunday and Monday for this nest. Valiant efforts were made yesterday to locate the nest amidst bad weather, however it was Monday's group who managed to recover it.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #28 Date it was laid: June 25 How many eggs: ? 57 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 8-August 28 Success: Hatched 8/14/06 93% success Notes: This nest was located in zone 5 high up in the dunes. At this point, all of the zones had come together to help zone 5 probe their 4 crawls (I love to see teamwork!!!). This nest was finally found and as the ominous clouds came rolling in, we quickly covered the nest and reluctantly called of the rest of the searches. Unfortunately, with the high tide and rather large raindrops, most of the tracks were no longer visible after a later second attempt. We will definitely keep our eyes out during the hatching season for any missed nests around the crawls. I can't thank our Sunday crew enough!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #27 Date it was laid: June 25 How many eggs: ? 109 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 3-August 23 Success: Hatched 8/15/06 91% success Notes: Where, oh where do I start? Sunday's team was amazing!!! With 9 total crawls on the beach, a very, very high tide, and a storm moving in fast, they managed to find two nests and intensely probe multiple other crawls. This nest was found in zone 4 and was stumbled upon by the Wrights and Stewarts. It was located above high tide line in a perfect spot. It was a text book crawl, body pit, and nest (which makes finding the eggs a little easier and what I love to see!!!).
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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #26 Date it was laid: June 24 How many eggs: ? 120 eggs Relocated?NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 7-August 27 Success: Hatched 8/13/06 67% success Notes: This nest was in a perfect spot in zone 5, tucked in a dune. She was an ambitious loggerhead who climbed up a dune and into a small crevasse. She must have found it hard to turn around in a narrow area, but she managed and did a fine job at that!!! Thank you to Holly Dolan for probing and locating the nest, and the rest of her team, Susan Reynolds and Evolyn Brooks, for assisting in the covering and marking of it.


		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest # 25 Date it was laid: June 21 How many eggs: 110 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 4-August 24 Success: Hatched8/13/06 71% success Notes: Another first to take note of. Wednesday not only had their first nest, but they also had their first turtle. She was found snug against the dune, laying a healthy nest of 110 eggs, just as the sun was making its way above the horizon. Teams 4 and 5 helped relocate their first nest of the season with much pride and enthusiasm. Congratulations, the streak is finally over with!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #24 Date it was laid: June 20 How many eggs: ? 122 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: August 3-August 23 Success: Hatched 8/13/06 96% success Notes: The first nest of the year for Tuesday’s group! The nest did not have to be relocated, this turtle crawled up the beach and nested under a fallen tree! What a good mom. She laid between zones 4 and 5, where multiple false crawls had elapsed over the past few days. Maybe the conditions were finally ideal...who knows!!! Regardless, it was a welcome first for our Tuesday group.
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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #23 Date it was laid: June 18 How many eggs: 128 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: August 1-August 21 Success: Hatched 8/12/06 34% success Notes: Half groggy and not sure I was seeing things correctly, I located barely visible, washed out tracks at the very far end of the island in zone 6. Once again, it looked like she had a nesting ceremony, with roaming tracks and possible additional body pits. However, the eggs were found with little effort and my zone 5 Friends stuck around to help me relocate the nest to a nice safe spot where the spring tides could not reach it. Big thanks to Bruce Wager and, Barbara, Kellie, & Tommy Wright for their help!!!
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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #22 Date it was laid: June 17 How many eggs: ? 120 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 24-August 20 Success: Hatched 8/12/06 14% success Notes: This nest was found under unfortunate circumstances. It looked as though the female loggerhead underestimated her clutch size and filled her egg chamber to the brim and then some. Unfortunately, while covering and camouflaging her nest she pushed some eggs around and others were simply broken. Regardless, she did a great job of laying above the high tide line and the broken egg shells and yokes were removed so that the nest would go undetected by predators. It was then covered and marked carefully and we’ll keep checking on it throughout the season. Our Friends, Richard Chiaviello, Jack Williams, Susan Adams, and guest volunteers troop #887 from Lexington Kentucky were all a great help with the nest. Also unfortunately, this nest was broken into by ghost crabs and they prevented the majority of the eggs from incubating Additional Announcements There were two additional false crawls, one that made 5 individual attempts at nesting in the same crawl, but didn’t seem to find a spot that met the high expectations of this Mom to be. It looks like she’ll be back to try again soon!!!



		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #21 Date it was laid: June 15 How many eggs: ? 116 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 22-August 18 Success: Hatched 8/11/06 97% success Notes: We narrowly missed this nesting female. Her incoming tracks passed the high tide wrack line, while her outgoing tracks met the receding tide. She dug deep, making it hard to probe, but Buddy Lawrence had success, and the rest of the team aided him in covering and protecting it.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #20 Date it was laid: June 15 How many eggs: ? 116 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 22-August 18 Success: Hatched 8/7/06 93% success Notes: We finally broke our 4 day no-nest streak!!! Zone 5 was deemed good luck and located two nests. Nest 20 was found and left in its snug location amidst old washed up Spartina. Many thanks need to go out to Bill Woodward for probing and finding the nest, and to the rest of the team; Jane Woodward, Tim Bruner, Bill Paddock, Eileen Doherty and our guest volunteers, Maclane and John, visiting from up north.
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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #19 Date it was laid: June 10 How many eggs: 133 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 24-August 13 Success: Hatched 8/8/06 58% success Notes: Zone 2 stumbled upon this nest early in the morning and once again spent some time trying to locate the eggs. The renourished sand made probing difficult and the nest hard to find. However, it was Holly Doran who finally found the nest just a couple inches below the surface. In the new sand it has become a trend to find the egg chambers rather shallow, thus leaving the eggs sometimes only an inch or two below the top layer of sand. Regardless, it was another successful nest!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #18 Date it was laid: June 9 How many eggs: 151 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 23-August 12 Success: Hatched 8/3/06 77% success Notes: This nest was actually laid in the renourishment zone during construction hours. Denise Parsick, our one and only night sea turtle staff, sighted the turtle in zone 1 and had all construction come to a halt, enabling the turtle to nest in peace. However, knowing that a nest was laid did not mean that it was easy to find that next morning. Pat Rice spent much time at the nest probing and didn't stumble upon it until around 8:15. After locating the nest, both Pat Rice and Annelisa Bindra relocated it. Thank you, ladies!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #17 Date it was laid: June 9 How many eggs: 118 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 23-August 12 Success: Hatched 8/4/06 83% success Notes: The nest was probed by Laurel Weeks and Anya Joseph, however, it was found and relocated by zone 5 Friends, Kathleen Bray, Holly Hook, and Dennis Glaves. It was a simple and short crawl that was laid at the dune line and relocated just above it.
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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #16 Date it was laid: June 8 How many eggs: 134 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 22-August 11 Success: Hatched 8/3/06 87% success Notes: Nancy Kates received much support from her team members, Terry Smith and Bonnie Dunbar, while relentlessly probing for nest #16. However it was Buddy Lawrence who came to the rescue and found the second nest of the day. What was about to be considered a false crawl, ended up being a beautiful nest with 134 eggs. It was laid a little too low for comfort and was cautiously moved closer to their turtle friends in nest #15. This just proves that patience is rewarded.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #15G Date it was laid: June 8 How many eggs: ? 116 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 22-August 11 Success: Hatched 8/10/06 54% success Notes: Nancy Kates, Terry Smith, and Bonnie Dunbar were lucky enough to have two crawls in zone #4. Because both turtles nested in the renourished area of the beach, the sand was compact and difficult to probe. However, with a little patience, nest #15G was found and left in situ or in the original location. Congrats!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #14 Date it was laid: June 5 How many eggs: 127 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 20-August 9 Success: Hatched 7/26/06 91% success Notes: It wasn't much further down the beach that nest #14 was found in zone 5. With the patient probing done by Merl Redfern, about an hour later the eggs were found. A whopping 127 eggs were moved just a few feet above spring tide line and will hopefully incubate peacefully for the next 60 or so days!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #13 Date it was laid: June 5 How many eggs: 108 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 20-August 9 Success: Hatched 8/2/06 14% success Notes: Thanks to Joe Lee and Gail Jones for patrolling zone 4 and finding nest #13. After a little help from Buddy Lawrence, the eggs were probed and found. She had nested just a little too low for comfort and the executive decision was made to relocate the nest a little further down the beach. First nest of the season for our Monday Friends. Congratulations!!!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #12 Date it was laid: June 4 How many eggs: 113 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 19-August 8 Success: Hatched 7/26/06 5% success Notes: Another eventful morning. Three false crawls and one nest. We were lucky enough to be graced with a female sea turtle's presence. She was found in the surf after nesting. Not satisfied with the sand during her first attempt, she found her way up to the dune line and started a second body pit. She laid a fine nest of 113 eggs, which was probed and relocated by Roberta Gunderson and Pat Keown.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #11 Date it was laid: June 3 How many eggs: 130 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 18-August 7 Success: Hatched 7/27/06 33% success Notes: Just as we started to call it a morning, we were radioed by Zone 1 with a nest. Susan Adams and Jack Williams helped to find and relocate the 130 eggs. The eggs were reburied in a perfect spot at the far end of zone one way up in the dunes. Another successful nest!!!

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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #10 Date it was laid: June 2 How many eggs: 107 Relocated? YES Date we expect it to hatch: July 17-August 6 Success: Hatched 8/2/06 28% success Notes: Two nests in one day!!! This mom came up a little short and her nest had to be moved just a little closer to the dunes. However, it was a successful relocation done by our friends Annelise Bindra and Jim Jones. During relocation two conjoined eggs were found in the nest and one can be seen in the picture at left.


		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #9F Date it was laid: June 2 How many eggs: ? 126 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 17-August 6 Success: Hatched 8/4/06 81% success Notes: This mama turtle did a fine job laying her eggs high enough above the tide line. With the help of Carolyn Westman, Stephen Jones, and Buddy Lawrence, the nest was successfully probed and protected. False Crawl - June 2 Notes: We also had a false crawl in zone 6. The picture shows her confusion and desperation. She went in many circles looking for the perfect spot to nest, but she didn't seem to find it. With the help of Buddy Lawrence and Jim Jones, the area was probed thoroughly and it was determined that no nest had been laid.


		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #8E Date it was laid: May 28 How many eggs: ? 101 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 22-August 11 Success: Hatched 7/31/06 77% success Notes: Another nest in a perfect spot, we did not have to move it! It did take a little while to find the nest, because Momma turtles take care to hide their nest from predators. It took this turtle a long time to dig her nest, too. We could tell by the difference in her crawl lengths, a very short crawl in at high tide and a long crawl out as the tide was much lower. Then all of a sudden, Donna Rhoten found her first nest, too.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #7D Date it was laid: May 28 How many eggs: ? We don't know. We left the nest where it was laid and we did not dig up the eggs to count them. We will count them after the hatch. 127 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 22-August 11 Success: Hatched 7/23/06 50% success Notes: The first thing we look for to identify a Sea Turtle nest is tracks. Then we look for clues to see if she spent enough time on the beach to dig and lay a nest. The process of digging a nest can take hours. This includes a big "body pit" or imprint that she makes while testing the sand and digging. This turtle made 2 body pits because the first spot was not good enough for the picky momma turtle. Even though Momma Turtles never come back to check their nest, they make sure it is protected and camouflaged. Then we use a stick to look for the nest egg chamber, which can be 2 feet deep. Note the stick in Volunteer, Connie Haskel's hand, with which she found her first nest.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #6 Date it was laid: May 27 How many eggs: 141 Relocated? YES. Thanks to: our Friends of Hunting Island Volunteers, Buddy Lawrence, Jack Williams, Susan Adams, Richard Chiaveillo, and Nancy Leedom. Date we expect it to hatch: July 21-August 10 Success: Hatched 7/23/06 59% success Notes: This nest was laid too close to the ocean, so we moved it to a safe dune above the highest of high tides. The tides change everyday and can also be higher up on the beach. This tide is called a spring tide, though it does occur anytime. The low tide is also extra low at this time. The reason for these extreme tides is the gravitational pull at these times is greater, as the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned.
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		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #5C Date it was laid: May 27 How many eggs: ? 105 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 21-August 10 Success: Hatched 8/3/06 91% success! Notes: We were delighted to learn that 2 nests had been laid on our beach this morning. We had not had a nest in 6 days. Sea Turtles do not lay nests every summer. Some lay nests every 2 years, some every 3 years. So last year we had 90 nests, but those turtles will not nest again this year. It is still anybody's guess as to how many nests we will have on our island, but the Turtles are off to a good start. And obviously, the more nests the better for this threatened species!

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #4 Date it was laid: May 21 How many eggs: 137 Relocated? Yes, Thanks to: Friends members Bruce Wager, Ronnie & John Stewart, and the Wright family! Date we expect it to hatch: July 15-August 4 Success: Hatched 7/21/06 93% success! Notes: This turtle was still on the beach when we arrived on the scene! However she was exhausted. Sea Turtles are not built to crawl on the land-they only come out of the ocean to lay nests, Unfortunately, this turtle ran into a big obstacle. Someone had constructed a hut that she got stuck underneath! This is a reminder to us all that we can help the turtles everyday by keeping our trash and belongings off the beach. They have a tough enough time succeeding in this world as it is. If she did not successfully lay a nest, 137 eggs could have been lost in the ocean. The females cannot physically hold the eggs forever. Only 1 out of 1,000 (some scientists say 1 out of 10,000) eggs hatch and reach maturity to have eggs of their own.

TOP		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #3B Date it was laid: May 19 How many eggs: We don't know. We left the nest where it was laid and we did not dig up the eggs to count them. We will count them after they hatch. 111 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 13-August 3 Success: Hatched 7/21/06 92% success! Notes: This turtle also found a good spot to lay her precious eggs! This nest was laid at the far southern end of the island. The second one in a row that we did not have to move! In 25%5, we had 90 nests laid on our beach and we relocated 81 of them to higher ground!.

		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #2A Date it was laid: May 18 How many eggs: We don't know. We left he nest where it was laid and we did not dig up the eggs to count them. We will count them after they hatch. 110 eggs Relocated? NO Date we expect it to hatch: July 12-August 2 Success: Hatched 7/12/06 86% success! Notes: This turtle made 2 nesting attempts (false crawls) before she decided on the perfect spot, safely on a dune.


		2006 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest #1 Date it was laid: May 14 How many eggs: 153 Relocated? Yes, to the Cabin area of the beach Date we expect it to hatch: July 8-July 20,— 45-60 days later (Nests laid this early in the season may take longer to incubate.) Success: Hatched 7/9/06 80.39% success! Notes: this nest we laid the day before our volunteer patrols began. So only staff was there to relocate all 153 eggs. Visitors staying in the cabin nearby pitched in to help count. Note the picture and tick marks for every egg.



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