Nest 41 – June 17
J-Anna Smith, Marnie Ellis, Jen Paterson and Kim Warchol were the lucky walkers finding Nest 41. The nest, containing 101 eggs, was relocated from 10 yards north of peg number 2 on North Beach to a safer spot about 5 yards further up the beach.
Nests 42 and 43 – June 18
Karen Sewell, Betsy and Chris Quinn found Nests 42 and 43. Nest 42, with 151 eggs, was moved to a safer location 110 yards south of Boardwalk 9. Sadly, Nest 43, in the area of the beach near Camp Saint Christopher, had been completely ravaged by raccoons.
Nest 44 – June 19
Francie and Rick Segal found Nest 44 at the far end of the island by Bohicket River. Since the nest was located in a potential ponding area, 102 eggs were relocated to a drier area 100 yards north of the chapel at Camp Saint Christopher.
Nests 45, 46 and 47 – June 20
SI Turtle Patrol had a busy day today with three nests and numerous false crawls found from one end of the island to the other. Nancy Schibler, Marnie Ellis and Jen Gibson found Nest 45 north of Boardwalk 9. This momma turtle dug three separate holes before she found a spot to her liking. Based on the difference in the length of the in and out crawls, she was probably on the beach for hours. 95 eggs were moved from the low spot, where it had been laid, to the top of the dune. Melissa Andrews, her grandchildren, Jane and Edward Kelly, along with Kim Neath, Sarah Dewey and Julie Minch, with assistance given by David Minch, found nests 46 and 47 in the North Beach area. Nest 46 was found 200 yards south of the bird sanctuary and was left in-situ. Nest 47 was 30 feet north of peg 2 near the bird sanctuary. The hard working momma came in, went over the dune, left a nest and then wandered another 100 yards behind the dune trying to find her way back to the ocean. 101 eggs were moved away from the low area behind the dune to the top of the dune. These energetic walkers also found two false crawls at the end of North Beach at Cap’n Sams Spit.
Nest 48 and 49 – June 21
Tory Kindley, Patt Tamasy, Linda and Bill Nelson, found a crawl where the momma dug a hole but didn’t lay any eggs. Their patience was rewarded, however, when they found Nest 48 in the dunes north of Boardwalk 3. Nest 48 was left in situ. Lori Porwoll, Linda Zegers and Ruby Jenkins found Nest 49 near the end of North Beach at the Spit. 70 eggs were relocated 50 yards north of peg 3.
Nest 50 – June 22
Gail Koornick walked all the way to the end of North Beach by herself and was rewarded with Nest 50 near the end of the Spit. 115 eggs in the nest were relocated close to peg 4.
Nest 51 – June 23
Our beautiful beach continues to entice the momma turtles and our intrepid walkers found Nest 51 as well as three false crawls. Heather Fife, Charlie Faught, Joanne Galivan, Paula Baram and Pixie Hider found Nest 51 south of Boardwalk 2. The 112 eggs were moved higher on the dune above the high tide line. Heather Fife was not able to be in the picture. Three false crawls were found this morning as well as an odd-looking track that may have been man-made but no human footprints were found. If anyone has any idea who or what made this track, please contact the Turtle Patrol.
-Submitted by Anne Snelgrove for SI Turtle Patrol