Nesting Season over for 2021

posted: August 22, 2021, 11:32 AM

It's been more than two weeks since a mother turtle has been seen on our beach. This confirms that the nesting season is over for this year. We have 67 nests. Which is up from last year, but not record breaking. Between 55 and 65 is becoming a new "normal" number of nests per year.

But we're still very busy with nests hatching. Most nests hatch after dark when the sand is cooler and hopefully it is a little safer for the hatchlings to head to the sea.

About 50% of the nests have hatched already. There are at least 10 teams of Turtle Patrol members on the beach each night preparing the nests for hatching.

These photos were taken of nest #23 as it was closed last Friday night. The tide was high and the hatchling turtles were swimming in the trench on their way to the sea. The group of visitors at the nest saw 39 live babies and the team counted 89 cracked open egg shells.

This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Holden Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST11).

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