The Loggerhead Turtles just keep on coming in to lay their nests and the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol (SITP) is having a banner year with 10 new nests this week and a total of 19 nests!
Sunday, May 26, started the week with 2 new nests. Nest 10 was found by Rachel Carter and Valerie and Mark Doane just north of Boardwalk 2. After thoroughly examining 3 separate places along the crawl, the nest was found and 131 eggs were relocated above the high tide line between Boardwalks 3 &4. Walkers, Ellen and Scott Smith, found Nest 11 at the very end of the beach at Camp Saint Christopher. This nest was also below the high tide line, 100 eggs were relocated in the dunes just beyond the kayak shed.
Nest 12 was found on all the way down on the point at Camp Saint Christopher on this Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. Walkers Jackie Brooks, Stephanie McCray and Tobie McMahon found the crawl and Bill Greubel and Lucy Hoover relocated 117 eggs to a safer spot, 30 yards north of the kayak shed. Coyotes were observed in the area while the nest was being relocated but so far, the screens have kept them at bay.
Lucky walkers Linda and Bill Nelson with Patt Tamasy found Nest 13 near Boardwalk 3 on Tuesday, May 28. Based on the difference in length of the in and out crawls, this loggerhead was on the beach for hours. A safer, dryer location was found for 115 eggs above the high tide line about 30 yards south of Boardwalk 3.
Thursday, May 30 was a banner day on the beach of Seabrook Island with two new nests! Nest 14 was found at the end of Camp Saint Christopher near Privateer Creek by Lucy and Ray Hoover, Carole Heilman and Amy Kashmer. 91 eggs were relocated 125 yards north of the kayak shed. Nest 15 was found by Pixie Hider, Charlene Faught, Joanne Gallivan and Marnie Ellis north of Boardwalk 3 in the trees among the roots. A more hospitable location for 88 eggs was found high in the dunes 10 yards south of Boardwalk 3.
Nest 16 was found by walkers Jen Gibson and Anne and Will Snelgrove on Friday, May 31, but unfortunately the coyotes found it first. Bill Greubel and Wendy Holschuh salvaged 33 eggs which were moved to a new location near the kayak shed.
We had an incredible start to the month of June with 3 new nests. Susan and Bill Miller and Lesley and Tony Gore found Nest 17 at the end of the North Beach at the spit. and 137 eggs were relocated to a safer and dryer location. Sue Ferland and Vivien Joklik found Nest 18 that had been predated by coyotes before we were able to protect the nest. Fortunately, 68 undamaged eggs were moved to a safe spot 5 yards north of Boardwalk 3. Last but not least, Jen Gibson, Karen Sewell and Edna Bickett found nest 19 and 113 eggs were moved to a safe location between Boardwalk 5 and The Club.
Last year Seabrook Island only had 4 nests by the end of May. For the month of May in 2022, we had 18 nests and 79 for the year. In 2021, we had 14 nests in May and 76 total. 2019 was a remarkable year with 26 nests by the end of May and a total of 90 nests for the year. We are hoping the trend continues but weather, tidal patterns and human activity can all greatly affect nesting production. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that the turtles continue to be productive here this season.
-Submitted by Anne Snelgrove, Seabrook island Turtle Patrol
(Image credit: Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol)