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.

Too Busy To Keep Up

Steve and I have been so busy that our general livelihood has been put on hold.  The sea turtles just keep coming.  We've had 49 nests in 5 days, plus 80 false crawls.  Our supplies have dwindled, our energy is lacking, and our food stores are nearly gone.  However, we have the willpower and enthusiasm to push on and see our record breaking year through!

I apologize for not writing more stories, but after we catch up on data entry, cut new screens, and paint new posts, we still have to do laundry and get to town!  Soon, I hope, to share more about the craziness that has consumed our lives.

Running in circles.

We're Killin' It.

As of today, Ossabaw has reached, and surpassed 100 nests.  Whew.  (Ossabaw is the only orange dot!)  To give you better reference for how great our numbers are, this day last year we had 39 nests, and that was a good year.

Image captured June 3rd, 2011.

On the 31st we had no new nests, and were afraid that the nesting boom had ended.  There have been years where the turtles nest like crazy in May only to dwindle.  Now, however, we are optimistic they will help Ossabaw reach a new record.  On the first, we had 9 nests, yesterday 9 nests, and today 8 nests.  We didn't experience anything close to this last year.

Ossabaw is still holding the lead with the most nests in the state, currently 22 more than the next highest island, Cumberland.  Something must be happening in the waters offshore to encourage their nesting here, and we like it.  Keep your fingers crossed they stay around.

Graphs captured June 3rd, 2011.