Turtle Update

We interrupt Fall Harvests & Halloween Treats for a Turtle Update and an overdue Thank You. . .

Loggerhead Nesting Season is officially over ~with an ALL time record of 68 nests for Harbor Island, South Carolina’s three-mile stretch of beach.

 I shared my Loggerhead Love here followed by more love at the table.

SEATURTLE.ORG and the Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring System reported Harbor Island’s turtle nesting season results:

Nests: 68
In Situ: 18
Relocated: 50 (73.5%)
Lost: 4 (5.8%)
Unknown: 6
False Crawls: 59

Estimated Eggs to Date: 6432

 Eggs Lost: 858 (13.3%)~ primarily to foxes

  Hatched Eggs: 3633
Emerged Hatchlings: 3401
Mean Incubation Duration (all): 56.5 days
Mean Clutch Count: 95.1 eggs (Relocated Only)

Mean Hatch Success: 47.5%
Mean Emergence Success: 44.7%
Nest Success: 79.4%
Beach Success: 53.5%

Loggerhead Sea Turtles lay an average of 120 ping-pong shaped eggs~ each with a “dimple” to provide a cushioned “bounce” for a safe landing in the nest.

Convenient~ since I just so happened to have a surplus of ping-pong sized Halloween candy~ one with its own dimple :)

Thank you to my friend Jain, for providing me with a little Loggerhead-Halloween fun!

 I’m always inspired~ Seaing what washes ashore your way :)

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

  11 comments for “Turtle Update

  1. October 16, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    YEAH!!!!!!!! For the turtles & thanks to all who helped. This is amazing & I loved seeing the tracks in the sand. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week. HUGS!
    Charlene & Elle

  2. October 16, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    What a wonderful post!!! Loved every photo!!!
    Have a beautiful week!!!

  3. October 16, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    So funny…the little Jackolantern heads! All of these pictures are fabulous and the turtles are really amazing…I am now a champion if the loggerhead!

  4. A Garden of Threads
    October 16, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    Great post. Love the mosaics. Wonderful photos.

  5. Pondside
    October 16, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    What a sweet way to give us a turtle update!

  6. October 16, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    So glad that nice people like you are taking care of the turtles. I remember seeing one lay her eggs many years ago on Jekyll Island, GA. Nancy

  7. October 17, 2011 at 8:02 am

    Amazing!!! I had a turtle in the back yard just two weeks ago. Have to idea where he went but he was handsome and trust he is well! Thank you for this post!

  8. October 17, 2011 at 10:39 am

    Great post! I had to really study your photos at first to figure out what was in the silver turtle….love it.

  9. October 17, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    you know i am smiling ear to ear on this one! how fun to see the stats live and in action leaping right out of the water, and edible too! right down to a dent… girl you crack me up! and delight me so :)

    thanks for more turtle love, i knew you would make me happy, you just do anything and all so well!

  10. Judy R
    October 18, 2011 at 5:54 am

    YEAH to the Loggerheads! May there numbers steadly increase and safe journey in their new lives. If I lived there I would be involved also. Thanks for all your work in their behalf.

  11. October 20, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    Too clever, and what a way to inform us! You are amazing!

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