The Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol has scheduled two inventories this weekend.
- The inventory of Nest 19 will be on Saturday, August 16, at 6:15 pm. Nest 19 is located next to the bridal trail entrance between boardwalks 2 and 3. Boardwalk 2 is the nearest beach access.
- The inventory of Nest 22 will be on Sunday, August 17, at 6:15 pm. Nest 22 is located between boardwalks 6 and 7. Either boardwalk 6 or 7 is the closest beach access.
Click here to see a map showing the location of the boardwalks.
Scheduled inventories and cancellations or postponements can be accessed here.
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
(Image credit: Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol)