Long Awaited Supplies

Today started off like any other, except that I woke up a little dizzy (read yesterday).  It soon wore off and I was able to join Steve in the effort to get out of the house.  I was headed south  for the first time alone (I've been on North for the last 4-5 days) in several days alone, and in the truck, which mostly meant an easy day.  I hit South Middle first, noting one false crawl below high tide.  As I hit the north end, I saw the Mule heading toward me.  The tide was super low and Steve crossed the creek with only a couple inches of water.  As we greeted each other, he asked if I saw the crawl behind me.  I hadn't yet, so we headed over.  Steve pulled out an egg and decided to head back to north end as the tide would eventually creep back up.  I mulled over the idea of relocating the nest for a bit.  I've relocated all the other nests laid in  this immediate area (it's a popular spot).  I decided in the end that I'd leave this one.  It's higher than normal high tides.  I'm also interested in comparing its hatchling success versus the others.  If this spot never washes over and/or has a higher hatch success than I'll have learned more (or been more confused) about relocation.  To help the nest, I began the dune building process that I did at SM1.  That nest washed over a couple times, and to protect it, I threw wrack and sand around its border.  It has since grown and would be very protected from potential washovers.

Today I noticed something that I've seen recently: and oil sheen in the puddles left by the low tide.  Steve and I will be collecting samples for the Coast Guard.  It's not suspected to be oil spill related, but they might be able to learn something about it.

Next I patrolled South Beach to find nothing so I used the opportunity to get some cell phone calls to my family as I get good reception down there.  My sister and I talked about an upcoming visit and then I finished my routine of checking the nests for depredation.  I also talked to Steve and learned that he had nothing, no nests or false crawls on either beach.  So strange.  We both hope we're not past our peak nesting yet...

Steve and I got home and did some chores until Adam arrived with some much needed plastic screening for the nests.  We ran out recently and had to use old metal screens.  They aren't the best in that they don't provide much protection from hogs, and may also interfere with the hatchlings' electro-magnetic signature. Over the next week, Steve and I will be replacing the metal screens with the plastic screens.  After our fun, yet brief visit, Steve and I prepped for our visit ashore for some food for our July 4th cook-out.  The rest of the day was spent writing this and continuing our Lost TV fest.

As I wrote this, I just saw that Georgia just 1000 nests for the 2010 year!

I've copied some links for some news articles we're interested in.  Each link may not be the most detailed, so if you want more info, you'll have to do some searching.    

First, the bird guys with GADNR released rehabbed Brown Pelicans from the Gulf on Georgia's coast.

Second, researchers are going to relocate 70,000+ sea turtles eggs from Alabama and Gulf Florida to Florida's east coast.  It's a huge effort that's never been done before.

Third, the article from the LATimes about BP Burning the sea turtles alive.

Fourth, Blair Witherington, Florida's lead sea turtle researcher, on NPR about sending observers to spot the turtles before they're burned.

Fifth, BP is being sued for burning turtles.  This will hopefully cause a change and allow for observers to look for the turtles before the oiled sargassum is set on fire.