loggerhead turtles

Papa’s World – Taylor – a week as an intern.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Two years ago, Taylor spent a week here with us.

She attended a “TURTLE TALK” –

With her “MORMOR” – Sherry.

At this informative event, she learned about being a summer intern for the Protection of Sea Turtles.

She remembered that an application had to be filled out and turned in at a certain time.

She did just that – on her own.

This past summer, she came to visit us for a week.

We had to accompany her whenever she participated on the beach!

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Permit – 26ST02

On her last day, an alert came across Sherry’s phone at 5:55 AM.

The turtle verification team was alerted that a “WILD TURTLE NEST” had been found and the hatchlings had hatched.

No one knew it was there.

A person walking on the beach had observed the little turtles coming up out of the sand-

And making their way to the water.

Here is a picture of Taylor and Sherry walking East on OIB at sunrise that day.

Early morning walks on the beach are one of the favorite things we like to do!

At the “WILD NEST” site in the dawning of a new day!

A fast improvised “WALKWAY PATH” was made for any remaining little turtles to make it to the water.

As a first-year “INTERN” – Taylor was given the job to excavate the nest –

Since it was a “WILD NEST” –

We were directed to bring up any remaining turtles and take an inventory.

Above is Taylor on the left being instructed by Sue on how to do this.

In the week that she interned –

She got to participate in TWO INVENTORIES after the five-day waiting period.

She was the person that the remains were handed to and put into a grouping of 10 to gather the information –

For The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Permit 26ST02.

This part was a first for her, and she was so excited to do it.

Here, Taylor is trained to see the inside of an egg that was not hatched –

Allowing light to shine through the egg –

And it proved not to be viable.

This internship program is valuable in that the next generation learns how to preserve Sea Turtles from extinction.

Only 1 in 1000 live to be adults and reproduce at 35 years of age.

She dug out 17 live baby sea turtles.

And we got all of them to the water.

However, while one was swimming about 50 feet out –

A Seagull swooped down and plucked it out of the water and carried it off!

The egg chamber after the excavation.

It was a success –

While we do not know exactly how many made it to the water-

With the birds, foxes, ghostcrabs – cats and dogs-

We do know how many were in the nest.

That is what the information to be passed onto the Commission tells from the excavation.

Wild nests are rare.

We have teams that go up and down the beach with an ATV to look for SeaTurtle Tracks early in the mornings!

On the East end, we have volunteers to walk the beach to search for tracks.

When found, a 24-hour verification team is called in to find the nest.

If it is below the tide line-

It is dug up and moved.

The eggs must be put back the exact way they are taken out!

Exact measurements are taken of the chamber from top to bottom.

And a new chamber is dug from the measurements – Image a upside down lightbulb as the chamber.

Male or female turtles are determined by the location in the nest.

The top of the chamber is hotter than the bottom.

Because of the Sun on the sand.

The bottom tends to be male, while the upper portion is female.

Thus the females are hot, and the males are cool!!!!

TAYLOR – INTERN – the smile says it all!

She is coming back next year, and her sister and brother have expressed a desire to become interns.

This life lesson has now been passed to another generation.

When asked, “WHY” do we do this?

Well – the world has changed.

There now are factors that did not exist years ago,

Preservation of a species –

Is what this is all about for Sherry and me.

This is our way to help them exist.

After all, only one in 1000 survives.

That Seagull got one –

Sixteen made it to the water.

At least we got them that far,

Maybe one of them is the one to survive!!!!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – ST2402 permit – SEA TURTLES!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

It is an early evening in August –

the middle of the month –

Sherry and I are dressed in our orange shirts –

shorts and carrying our flashlight-

that beams red in the darkness!

We are carrying our chairs –

as we leave the boardwalk and step onto the sand.

Beyond the “TRENCH” for the little turtles-

who hatch to make their way to the ocean –

lies a deserted evening beach.

We are almost near the end of the “SEASON” for beach vacations!

we meet at the nest – NUMBER 21 –

there have been 36 nests on the beach.

The sun is setting –

casting an orange glow over the vacationers who have gathered –

News has gone up and down the beach –

THE TURTLE NESTERS are waiting for the hatchlings to appear.

The ten team members have been all given their assignments –

when the hatchlings begin the escape from the chamber-

that contains them!

We know that this one contains 142 eggs –

Because it was relocated from below the tidal line –

to closer to the dune –

to keep it from being flooded out!

This would cause the baby Sea Turtles to drown!

Then – a small crack in the center of the chamber –

about an inch long.

While we are talking – the “DROP” happens!

The previous night – a full moon –

but this night the clouds set in – darkness prevailed!

We all assumed our positions –

The edging was set up going to the water line –

it was not yet high tide but was rising minute by minute.

A large crowd has gathered –

standing beyond the rope –

a barrier we erected to keep the eager crowd back –

so we had room to crawl-

on hands and knees along the trench.

We had to keep the baby turtles on their journey to the water –

in that trench.

Mainly to ensure they reached the water.

You see –

they go towards the white of the waves crashing on the shore –

and the sound of those waves.

When the moon is out they head toward the water.

On dark nights –

the lights from the beach houses draw them toward the dunes.

They will perish if they do that.

Foxes – birds – stray cats – birds and crabs –

they are a feast for all of them.

Thirty-five minutes later –

the last has reached my position at the end of the trench –

I guide “HER” –

I have named her PEGGY –

In my mind only –

after a dear friend who donated to the Sea Turtle Protection last year.

Now we have to sit in the nest for three days –

we had what is called a “BOIL”!

That is when all of them seem to come at once.

If this happens –

the Wildlife Resources Commission of N.C. –

Requires us to sit for three days in case any are left!

So – we thanked the crowd –

who mostly reframed from using lights –

phones and cameras.

These would blind the little turtles –

and then they are lost.

After the three days were up –

we did what is called an inventory required by the Commission.

Here you dig down and recover the egg shells –

and any small turtles that did not make it!

This gives the Commission the data they need –

and also tells us if our count was correct!

Which in the darkness –

is hard to see.

After –

you tear down the nest –

fill in the chamber –

and dig another hole to bury the eggshells in.

The foxes know where the old chamber is-

but we try to keep them from digging up the shells-

that were left.

NEST NUMBER 21 is officially closed –

we were right on the count made by the relocation team!

A big shout out to –

NEST NUMBER TWENTY ONE’s TEAM OF DEDICATED MEMBERS!

All of us moved on to other nests –

and new team members.

A big thank you to LIZ in the middle of the trench as team leader-

even though she was pregnant – CHEERS!

As the moon comes up over the ocean –

another night has ended for our volunteer work-

Sitting on the beach at night from 7 to 11 pm.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog