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.