The Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol will inventory
Nest 21 on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 6:00 pm
and
Nests 23 and 27 on Sunday, July 31, 2022 beginning at 6:00 pm
Nest 21 is located 100 yards north of Boardwalk 6 which is the nearest beach access.
Nests 23 and 27 are located in front of Camp St. Christopher between the flag and the vehicle entrance. The nearest beach access is Boardwalk 9.
Click here to see a map showing the location of the boardwalks.
The timing of this inventory may be modified without notice in the event of inclement weather.
Turtle hatchlings typically emerge from the nest during the night to avoid exposure to daytime predators such as seagulls. This is called a boil because it really does look like a boiling event when the baby turtles emerge all at once from the nest which is a hole in the sand.
About three days after the boil, the Turtle Patrol team performs an inventory. They count the empty shells as well as the eggs that have not hatched for a report to DNR. Sometimes, some of the hatchlings are still at the bottom of the nest and haven’t made it out yet. The inventory team helps these hatchlings down to the water’s edge where they can gather strength for their journey across the ocean. We can’t always promise there will be hatchlings to see, but when there are, it is very exciting!
-Submitted by Jane Magioncalda for SI Turtle Patrol