protection

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

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Papa’s World – Preparing Turtle Nest for watching!

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DISCLAIMER: The work for protected Sea Turtles is authorized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

PERMIT: ST020232

The volunteers of Ocean Isle Beach are in the dozens and dozens – from walking the beach looking for

“TURTLE TRACKS” to riding an ATV along the beach and dunes looking for the distinctive large

Tractor Tire coming up out of the water – then turning around and heading back to the water.

Thus – leaving buried her nest – to be found by these said volunteers who then put in place

protections to ensure the nest is safe!

The nest has been protected against predators and here – on day number 55 – the nest watchers gather

at 7PM. every night – to 11 PM. until the baby turtles have hatched.

In this picture – the top covering has been rolled back and a miro-phone buried eight inches and covered up close to the nest.

We now are listening for activity inside the nest to give us a better idea of when to expect the turtles to hatch and emerge.

You can see the yellow line running away from the nest down to a speaker set up for listening.

As team members watch – 10 members to each team – the leader prepares to bury the microphone.

Soon the yellow wire is to be run back to where the team members have their chairs set up behind the rope-off area.

The roped-off area with team chairs and the ramp for the baby turtles extends all the way to the water.

This whole process on OIB is done by volunteers – there are currently 28 nests and each will require a team consisting of 10 members!

They are continually educating the public and children who are fascinated by this process.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – PREPARING SEA TURTLE NEST FOR WATCHING!

Papa’s World – Nest Sitting for SEA TURTLES!

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Ocean Isle Beach – Disclaimer: The work for protected Sea Turtles by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Oermit ST020232.

We have joined not only the WALKING GROUP – but also the NEST PARENTS group starting on day 55 after the Sea Turtle has laid her eggs – of “Watching the nest ” until they have hatched.

This requires a team of 10 individuals to go through hands-on training while at the place nest for four hours in the early evening – each night until the Sea Turtles have hatched.

Hatching usually occurs between Day # 70 to Day # 75.

The team gathers as the Team Leader explains a phase of Sea Turtle Nesting – always reminding them that this is a public beach and part of the training is to educate people on just why we do this.

Everything you see in this picture has been installed by the Sea Turtle of OIB Protection volunteer organization.

At the beginning and end of each watch session – the volunteer team cleans and smoothes the trench from the nest to the water line.

Installing a rope barrier for crowd control and to make sure the baby turtles have a clear path to the water.

Team members place their chairs between the rope barrier and the trench to have easy access when the hatching begins.

Past history has been the babies will hatch after it cools down for the day and the sand is not so hot.

Those hours are generally 7Pm. to 11PM.

Team members interact with the spectators and encourage them to watch and ask questions.

There can be upwards of 200 to 300 people who stop by or bring their chairs to wait for the hatching!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – NEST SITTING FOR SEA TURTLES ON OIB, N.C.

Papa’s World – Turtle Nest – a place for social gatherings.

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Disclaimer: The work for Protected Sea Turtles is authorized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission – Permit: ST020232

The parents bring the children and the children bring their parents!

Nest sitting not only to keep a watch on the Sea Turtles hatching – but to share with the community

and teach what this whole process is all about – NEST PARENTS!

The team gathers while the team leader prepares the microphone buried in sand to “LISTEN”

to the baby turtles inside.

The crowds come each night – week to week different as the changeover occurs in rentals.

Each week starts over by teaching each group “WHY” we are here and how they can help.

People bring chairs – food and drinks and talk – to the team and amongst themselves.

Conversations with team members from Sunset Beach Turtle members – sharing information.

They are in blue shirts.

The female Sea Turtle does not start laying eggs until she is 25 years old – through DNA testing

done by cooperation between N.C. – S.C. – Ga. – and Northern Flordia –

they have traced a daughter – mother and grandmother Sea Turtle –

which places the grandmother Sea Turtle at more than 75 years old!

Welcome to OIB Sea Turtle Nest Sitting – a social event as well as teaching!

Thanks for reading Papa’s World – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa – observing the team members and the people of OIB – SEA TURTLE NESTING!

Papa’s World – SEA TURTLE NEST PROTECTION!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Disclaimer: The work for protected Sea Turtles is authorized by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission – PERMIT: ST200232

The Sea Turtles Protection on Ocean Isle Beach is a volunteer organization.

Many – many volunteers dedicated to the Sea Turtles hatching and as many as possible reaching the waters of the Ocean.

Also – to protect TURTLE NESTS along the beach from predators and educate the public on the survival of the Sea Turtles who come to the beach to lay their eggs.

Nesting is usually done overnight – leaving huge TURTLE CRAWL TRACTS on the beach – digging a hole and laying the eggs.

The SEA TURTLE ten covers the nest, slowly crawls back to the ocean – the mother never sees the little turtles – and can lay eggs several more times.

The beach is patrolled by an ATV every morning before 5:30 am. and Beach walkers at 6am.

Nests are called in and a response team comes and verify the nest and sets up protection and takes GPS coordinates.

Female Sea Turtles only start producing eggs at the age of 25 years old –

Through DNA testing of eggs – they can be tracked all up and down the coast of N.C. – S.C. – Ga. –

and the Northern part of Florida.

They have the DNA of a daughter Turtle – its mother and its grandmother which would be at least 75 years old!

The Sea Turtles return to lay eggs all up and down the coast and sometimes come back to the same beach.

Thanks for reading and here are some pictures of the preparation to protect the nests.

Here the nest has been prepped for protection – the mesh rolled back to bury a microphone to listen to the babies moving around in the nest.

The sounds they make are then compared to several recorded sounds on an app on the leader’s phone.

You then compare the sounds to the app to try and pinpoint how many days are left before they hatch.

The team comes each night at 7PM. and sits for four hours – they will do this each night until the nest hatches.

Past data collected shows that the nest will hatch within this time frame but it can occur outside of this,

these are dedicated volunteers – it could stretch into weeks of watching and waiting!

Installing the microphone by burying it next to the nest at the same depth – it records people 50 to 75 feet away talking and moving about.

This is put down to keep foxes out of the nest – when they hatch this will be moved out of the way.

Team members listening to the sounds from the nest Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD –

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – SEA TURTLE NEST PROTECTION – ON OCEAN ISLE BEACH

Papa’s World – SHERRY – committed to TURTLE NESTING!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

The Work for protected SEA TURTLES is authorized by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

PEERMIT ST020232

A nest on OIB – Sherry and I have committed to walking the beach and she committed to sit and observe the nest until hatching.

This involved TEN TEAM MEMBERS who started on a specific day of the nest being laid –

They go down at 7PM. and stay until 11PM each night until they hatch.

Each member is given a task to perform upon arrival and during the hatching.

This must be performed each night – and the nest is checked each morning by the ATV-GATOR patrol

and daily checked by the OIB police patrol.

When the walkers observe a Turtle having come ashore through the gigantic crawl tracts –

A verification occurs and a team will ready the nest by adding protection and roped off.

This is all done by volunteers – there also is fast response teams and relocation teams

in event the nest is in a dangerous area of survival, and it is moved very carefully.

Predators are watched for and everything for the hatching is provided to insure safe passage to the ocean.

Sherry – volunteer for SEA TURTLES ORGINATION OF OCEAN ISLE BEACH. Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

TEAM MEMBERS SET UP WITH PATHWAY FOR SEA TURTLES TO GO TOWARD THE WATER OF OIB!

SHERRY – COMMITTED TO TURTLE NESTING – PAPA’S WORLD!