Another very hot morning on Waties, but an exciting one for the Monday team.
Half way up the beach the team found a total emergence of N#01 at day 68. This nest was laid on May 25th and since this lady knew what she was doing it did not have to be moved.This inventory will be done Thursday morning.
The team was hoping to find total emergent at N#02R today, since yesterday there was a partial one. Interestingly, again all the turtles emerged from a crab hole, not the reed area. If you remember this nest was relocated from the jetty area and we had transferred 141 eggs to a new site lower down the beach. So this inventory will also be done Thursday morning.
Unfortunately, the ghost crabs are having a field day in this hot weather. When the team reached N#04 they found a huge crab hole at the reed with an egg shell outside. They were unable to get him out so they covered the hole and continued their walk. when they returned there was another crap hole with another shell laying on the outside of the nest. Unable to get him out, they covered the hole. Tomorrow crab traps will be placed around this nest to help prevent anymore loss.
Pictures and summary by Jewel and Sharon.
All sea turtle monitoring by WISTP is permitted and authorized by SCDNR marine turtle conservation program under permit MTP 500.
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