Leatherback Hatchlings

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) rarely nests on Georiga's beaches, and is thought to be a new phenomenon.  DNA has already been completed on one of this season's leatherbacks, ID = DC000007.  Of her four nests, three were on Ossabaw.  Of those three, two were laid within 90m of one another.

Screenshot of her nesting history by DNA

An inventory has been completed on SM01, with poor results.

Nest contents of SM01

SM04 is still incubating, however Steve and I are not very optimistic.  Unless we missed the emergence, no hatchling tracks have been observed.  Our protocol for leatherback nests is to wait until 80 days for inventory, rather than 70 days for loggerheads, because the embryos typically incubate 5 days longer.  The nest is currently 74 days old, so only 6 days to go.

The good news, however, is that NB20 emerged on July 25, at 63 days.  Steve counted about 20 crawls to the water.  Today, I found two hatchlings at the surface.  I helped them down the beach, as it was low tide.  (I am beginning to feel like it's always low tide when I have to release hatchlings during the day.)  Fortunately, it was cool and overcast.  I watched them crawl to the water and swim off.  They are not nearly as agile as loggerheads, or at least that's my experience.  Their front flippers are so cumbersome that both crawling and swimming takes a lot of effort.  Look on the side bar for video and in the 2011 album for more photos.  I continued on survey, and returned some time later to check on the nest once more before calling it a day.  I found another hatchling emerging, but with a ghost crab attacking it.  I scared the crab off and helped the hatchling out of the screen.  Again I spent some time with the hatchling, allowing it to slowly crawl down the beach and slowly swim off.  It's a wonder that any of them survive.  

This may be one of a few successful emergences of leatherback hatchlings so far in Georgia's history.  Given the rainy, cool conditions, there very likely will be more hatchlings emerging today and tonight.  I hope these little turtles help pass on mom's genes and continue to bring more leatherbacks to Ossabaw.

Banding the American Oystercatcher Chicks

On June 22nd, Steve and I ventured to South Middle Beach with Tim (GADNR Senior Bird Biologist) and his assistant Andy, to put unique bands on the Oystercatcher chicks.  The bands are used to identify the birds throughout their lives, as long as the bands stay in place.  The rate of mortality rate of 0-2 year olds is high, so tracking them helps biologists better understand the life histories of the birds.  


Once on the beach, we had to walk to find the family of four.  I had seen them close to the ATV road early that morning, so we hoped for a short walk.  Eventually we spotted them farther north.  The plan was to approach from the dune, at high tide, so the chicks would not have far to run.  It turns out they can swim, and dive.  Tim went off with a net for the first, which in turn ran straight for the water.  Once it dove, Tim could only wade around the knee deep water and wait for it to surface.  It eventually came up and Tim nabbed it.  Steve, Andy, and I corralled the second chick.  It slipped past my hands, but seconds later, Andy got it with the net.  Now that we had both, it was time to get to work.  

Steve and I each held a chick as Tim and Andy got to work recording band numbers, securing them on the legs of each chick, taking measurements of the beak and wings, as well as weight.  The surprising thing with some birds, is that when on their backs, they remain still.  Tim was able to lay them directly on the scale to get a weight.  During the whole ordeal, the parents waited anxiously nearby, occasionally vocalizing.   The chicks hated every minute, and would vocalize back.  After it was all over, we released the chicks together.


A couple days later we learned that our timing was perfect.  The larger chick successfully took flight meaning we would never be able to catch him or her (without a large net).   After some recent scares lately about the missing Oystercatcher family, all seems well and the chicks appear healthy.  I hope to hear good news from Tim in the future that Cu and Ct (their band IDs) are alive and well somewhere in Georgia.

Hatching Season!

On July 5th, we had out first emergences: SB03 and NB04!

Straggler from SB03 (at very low tide)

The same day, Sea Island also reported their first two emergences.  These four nests were the first for Georgia.  Since then, several more nests have hatched.  The incubation times are all over the place, and some of our earliest nests have yet to show signs of hatching, including the first leatherback nest laid on April 19th.  


As I was doing my normal survey this morning, I approached 50-day old NB11 to remove the small screen.  I noticed a circular area of distubred sand that I assumed was from a ghost crab, or raccoon since there were tracks around.  I clipped the cable ties and removed the screen.  To my surprise, there were little heads at the surface.  The nest was ready to emerge last night but the hatchlings were blocked by the screen.  I ushered out the seven guys on top since they started moving around, and softly piled sand on top of the rest.  Since it was daylight, I didn't want a full on frenzy.  

Hatchlings first moments outside the nest

Once properly oriented, they were off!

It was low tide so I helped them out by carrying them part of the distance.  I promise those critics out there that I allowed them plenty of time to crawl down the beach. 

Soon the seven were swimming away from the beach and it was time continue survey.  After working a nest and a few false crawls, I had to do my first nest inventory of the season.  

Steve had only recorded one track out of this nest, so I wasn't sure what I was in for.  The roots of the grass surrounding the nest can pose problems to the eggs, which is what I suspected was the reason for the low observed emergence.  I slowly dug into the nest cavity with a gloved hand.  Just as I felt two hatchlings, motor memory began to kick in from last year.  I put sand in the bucket, and then the hatchlings.  I continued to dig up the contents of the nest, finding more and more trapped hatchlings.  Between the growth of fine roots and the compaction of sand, the hatchlings hadn't been able to move.  By the time i reached the bottom, 21 strong turtles were ready to run down the beach.

Nest contents (including a bucket full of hatchlings)

Tracks remaining in the wet sand

After two months of hard work, Steve and I are once again reminded of our purpose out here.  Every hatchling counts toward the recovery of sea turtles, and we're glad to be a direct part of the effort. 

Record Numbers in the News

Our boss is touting Ossabaw's nesting season to the news.  C'mon, 400!


Read: Sea Turtles Nesting At Record Rate

It's (Not) Always Sunny...

The last couple months have observed several not so sunny days.  Some days had rain, but others have been shaded out by smoke.  There have been and still are wildifres burning in southeast Georgia, most specifically Honey Prairie in Okefenokee Swamp.  Some days the wall of smoke is visible in the distance to the south.  Just the other day, the smoke crept northward over Ossabaw, darkening the skies and making it hard to breathe.  It's days like these that have you wondering if the island in on fire.  

Hazy marsh

NASA's website hosts a collection of satellite images showing the wildfire's impact over the eastern seaboard and across the Atlantic.  

Copyright: NASA

Below are pictures from one of my worst mornings:

At 6:30 AM, thick smoke to the south

At 7:30, thick smoke erases St. Catherines Island

News sources say that the recent rain had suppressed the burning, but it is building again.  Some areas are even "reburning," when pine needles and dead trees from the initial fire re-ignite from a heat source.   Officials report that it may not be until August that the wildfire is contained, which means more smoky days to come.

Numbers

As you've guessed, Steve and I are still monitoring a record nesting year.  We have celebrated several milestones this past month.  We quickly went from 100 to 200 nests.  Then last week, we flew by our 2010 total of 217.  We still continue to hold an easy lead, creeping higher and higher.  Today it is close to 60 nests, with a total of 268.  Another fun number is our total number of false crawls (when a turtle crawls up the beach but doesn't nest).  We're near 320, which is greater than the total number of nests plus false crawls for Cumberland Island.  Sorry Cumberland, can't help to boast, but you are our biggest competitor.  Soon we'll hit 300 nests and will have beaten the Ossabaw record of 298.  Steve and I just received what could be the last of the supplies, enough to screen 150 more nests.  If that becomes the case, we'll have over 400 nests!  We're now accepting applications for unpaid help, preferably with experience of sea turtle nest monitoring, vehicle and boat maintenance, home chores, cooking, working in adverse field conditions, over long hours, weekends and holidays....(just kidding but it would be nice).

Not Just SEA Turtle Nest Monitoring

On May 17th, Steve and I were saying good-bye to Adam, our boss's 2nd in command, at the dock.  As we we parked the truck, we noticed a diamondback terrapin laying a nest.  

Covering the nest.

Diamondback terrapins are the only turtle that lives in brackish water.  They inhabit coastal waters from New England to Texas.  The turtle suffered years of unregulated harvest for food in the 1800 to early 1900s and the species suffered for it.  Fortunately, despite habitat destruction, the diamondback terrapin has made a good recovery in most of their existing range.

We learned last year that the dirt parking lot is a popular nesting place for terrapins, however, the trucks and raccoons are too dangerous to their safety.  With Adam's tips, we relocated the nest.

Steve looking for the eggs.

First of seven eggs

Diamondback terrapin egg

A very familiar position.

The nest is being incubated in a cooler on our porch.  It should hatch in a similar time frame to the sea turtles, around 60 days.  We have a thermometer in the dirt, and guessing it is averaging mid to high 80s, the nest will most likely be female.  

According to several websites, we can raise the young for some time to increase their chances of survival.  Under our care, the hatchlings would grow much faster, and therefore be stronger at release.  Steve and I haven't yet decided on a plan since we're not set up for taking care of turtles.  Stay tuned!

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island has a conservation plan for diamondback terrapins that are impacted by the road that connects the mainland with the island.  To learn more about their efforts saving diamondback terrapins, visit their website.