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