Loggerhead Turtle Nest Data and pictures

Monday, May 17th

Nest #1 Kathy Agee, Collins Strickland, Kelly & Sam Taylor located Fripp's first nest of the season this morning at the very North end of the island near the revetment in front of the tidal pool. 123 eggs were relocated to a dune in the POA #2 area.

Inventoried 7/21 (0 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
40 un-hatched eggs
83 empty shells
124 total eggs

83/124 = 67% hatch rate - 67% emergence

Friday, May 21st

Nest #2 Found south of POA #21 by Rich Combes who spotted the tracks, and the eggs were located by Jane TenEyck after several probes. There were 106 "good" eggs and 21 eggs destroyed by crabs, for a total of 127. With assistance by Ben TenEyck, Cyndi White and yours truly , the team relocated the nest to just south of POA #6 in hopefully a great and safe location for the incubation period. Robbie White Inventoried 7/21 (0 dead hatchlings)

Inventoried 7/21 (0 dead hatchlings)

21 eggs predated (1 predated egg taken for study)
10 un-hatched eggs
96 empty shells
127 total eggs

96/127 = 76% hatch rate - 76% emergence

Nest #3 in Zone 1, near access #4. The tracks were above the high tide line (about midnight) and the nest was easy for Kathy G to find - her first nest. Ron G went for the posts and helped dig the new nest. We were all encouraged by friends Martha and Dickie B, and of course our leader Janie who took an egg for DNA testing. We relocated 126 eggs to a small dune near access#3. Betsy K

Inventoried 7/24 (2 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
15 un-hatched eggs
111 empty shells
127 total eggs

111/127 = 87% hatch rate - 86% emergence

Nest #4 Betsy Richards & Rich Combes (and Spanky) found nest #4 just north of POA #3 marker on the beach. It was Betsy’s first! We considered leaving the nest in situ, but the eggs only had a few inches of sand covering them and crabs were already in the eggs. With help from Cyndi & Robbie White, we relocated 109 eggs about 50 feet north of original nest to a location next to nest #3 at POA #3. The nest had 115 eggs, with 6 of these destroyed by crabs. Crabs had left one egg with yolk intact, and we used that for DNA sample. Rich C.

Inventoried 7/26 (1 dead hatchling)

6 eggs predated (1 predated egg taken for study)
3 un-hatched eggs
106 empty shells
115 total eggs

106/115 = 92% hatch rate - 91% emergence

Nest #5 Team Betsy Koehler, Betsy Richards, Dickie and Martha Blanchard, and Pat Rowell. The nest was found just South of POA #5, and 101 eggs were relocated to the dune directly behind where it was found. We probed for 15-20 minutes before finding the nest, which was relatively deep at about 10-12 inches below the sand. The sand was also relatively packed, probably due to the heavy rain last night, which made it difficult to find. The eggs were probably laid either just before or during the rain storm. No eggs were lost to probing or crabs.
Thanks to all of you for letting me visit your Island every week to participate in the Loggerhead program. I love the drive out there, the walks on the beach, the friendships, and the blessings and wonder of the Loggerhead turtles. Pat R.

Inventoried 7/29 (2 dead hatchlings)

     1 egg taken for study
   14 un-hatched eggs
   87 empty shells
102 total eggs

87/102 = 85% hatch rate - 83% emergence

Nest #6 Between POA #'s 5 & 6 and left in situ. The nest was located by Cyndi after probing & digging by Cyndi and Betsy. No eggs were damaged by probing. Cyndi & I were accompanying Betsy on the north end since Rich was out today. Special thanks to Janie & Rick for bringing the stakes & supplies to us. Robbie

Inventoried 8/03 (2 dead hatchlings)

     1 egg taken for study
   20 un-hatched eggs
   45 empty shells
   66 total eggs

45/66 = 68% hatch rate - 65% emergence

Nest #7 Found near POA #3. The wind had erased tracks in the soft sand, but a broken egg on the nest showed us just where to probe. Mama turtle did a good job so it was left just where she laid it. Kelly and Sam Taylor and Kathy Agee found the nest with assistance from several early morning beach walkers. Janie helped and used the broken egg for DNA research A great day for Fripp turtle teams.

Inventoried 8/05 (1 dead hatchlings)

     1 egg taken for study
     6 un-hatched eggs
   83 empty shells
   90 total eggs

83/90 = 92% hatch rate - 91% emergence

Nest #8 Micki M. and I were walking south in Zone 2 and saw a false crawl just before we got to access #21. It must have been early in the evening as the tracks were above the 9:30 pm high tide line. Maybe lights or people scared her away. But further down the beach, almost to access #22, we think the same mama turtle came back! She came in before high tide, and left much later! The tracks were wind blown and not at all visible in the soft sand, but we looked further up to the rocks and found a lot of disturbed and thrown sand. I probed the first area, Micki probed nearer to the exit tracks and she found IT . We relocated 137 eggs to a sloping dune in front of the stairs at #16, and saved one egg for research. Many thanks to Cyndi and Robbie White who helped us with getting the stakes and transportation. And thanks also to Janie, for her support and for taking our picture. Betsy K.

Inventoried 8/04 (6 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
30 un-hatched eggs
107 empty shells
138 total eggs

107/138 = 77% hatch rate - 73% emergence

Nest #9 Found in Zone 2, just south of POA #22, above the high tide line. This area is typically inundated with high water later in the season therefore 87 eggs were relocated to a sloped/seaward dune between POA #16 and POA #17. (there was a total of 88 eggs, 1 was taken for the study). From left to right - Tony N., Karen N., Linda F., & Bob F.

Inventoried 8/03 (76 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
11 un-hatched eggs
76 empty shells
88 total eggs

76/88 = 86% hatch rate - 0% emergence

Nest #10 Turtle was still on the beach, so we were lucky enough to see her make her way back to the ocean. Yesterday morning we also saw a turtle, but it was not the same one. She nested at POA #18. Rick, Annelisa, Rich, and Betsy R. found the nest and relocated the eggs south of POA #16 next to the Captain John Fripp Villa stairs. There were 146 eggs (2 eggs were eaten by ghost crabs), our biggest nest of the season! This was Rick's first nest. As she made her way into the ocean, pelicans flew over the ocean and a dolphin swam by. What an unbelievable place we live! Cyndi W.

Inventoried 8/10 (8 dead hatchlings)

2 eggs predated (1 predated egg taken for study)
44 un-hatched eggs
100 empty shells
146 total eggs

100/146 = 68% hatch rate - 63% emergence

Nest #11 Found south of access #21, nice in and out tracks, and a clearly defined body pit. Didn't take too long to find it, under all the wrack that was disturbed. To south on our beach to be safe from future high tides, we relocated 110 eggs to access #16. One egg was reserved for the DNA research project. Can't wait to see results. It was Gerri Burson's first nest, she was so excited, and we let her do all the work. She left exhausted, but now a total believer in the importance of the work that we do to help (in a small way) to preserve this wonderful species of sea turtles. Betsy, Micki and Gerri.

Inventoried 8/12 (1 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
6 un-hatched eggs
104 empty shells
111 total eggs

104/111 = 94% hatch rate - 93% emergence

Nest #12 South of POA #22 by John & Judy Dayner ( Welcome BACK GUYS!), Martha & Dickie Blanchard and Janie Lackman. 140 eggs were relocated to the POA #17 area. Prior to relocation 3 eggs were broken one by ghost crabs.

Inventoried 8/11 (79 dead hatchlings)

3 eggs predated (1 predated egg taken for study}
60 un-hatched eggs
80 empty shells
143 total eggs

80/143 = 60% hatch rate - 0% emergence

Sunday, June 27th

Nest #15 Found at POA #4 with 111 eggs and 1 taken for DNA sampling. Cyndi found the nest, and with assistance from Martha, Dickie, Janie & Robbie, it was relocated north of POA #4 to higher ground. This same team was fortunate enough to see Mama turtle come out of the ocean @ 9:40 pm Saturday night, lay her eggs and return minutes before 11:00 pm. A rather large crowd gathered and gave us the opportunity educate people as well to share the experience. We are so lucky to live here. Robbie W.

Inventoried 8/19 (0 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
63 un-hatched eggs
48 empty shells
112 total eggs

48/112 = 43% hatch rate - 43% emergence

Wednesday, June 30th

Nest #16 Joe and Johnsie Brown, Judy and John Dayner, between POA #18 and 19 and relocated the 125 eggs just north of #18. It was the Browns' first nest, so they had digging, counting and relocating honors. Dickie and Martha Blanchard and Janie Lackman helped with the move.

Inventoried 8/22 (0 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
20 un-hatched eggs
105 empty shells
126 total eggs

105/126 = 83% hatch rate - 83% emergence

Sunday, July 4th

Nest #17 Janie watched Mama lay her eggs last night near POA #7. She called Judy, John, Dickie and Martha this morning to come move the eggs away from the tide line - and an active ghost crab area - to a safer spot on the dune. With the help of Samantha Crotty, they moved 96 eggs to a new nest. Even though crabs got two eggs, it was a great start to the Fourth of July.

Inventoried 8/25 (0 dead hatchlings)

     2 eggs predated (1 predated egg taken for study)
   12 un-hatched eggs
   84 empty shells
98 total eggs

84/98 = 86% hatch rate - 86% emergence

Monday, July 5th

Nest #18 Found today in Zone 1 near POA #3. There was a failed attempt with a beautiful hole that was abandoned. The new nest was about 8 feet from that site and only found because a ghost crab made a hole at that spot. It was above the high tide mark so it was left where it was found and not relocated, however the tent sitting on top of the nest was relocated to another spot by our wonderful police department! This nesting area is a popular place for nest and tents. It was found by Kelly Taylor, Sam Taylor, Kathy Agee with some help from Renata and Debbie (who was visiting Fripp).

Inventoried 8/27 (0 dead hatchlings)

     1 egg taken for study
   89 un-hatched eggs
   51 empty shells
141 total eggs

51/141 = 36% hatch rate - 36% emergence

Saturday, July 10th

Nest #19 Found north of POA #3 with 135 eggs and 1 taken for research. The nest was relocated just north of POA #3 to higher ground. Betsy Koehler, Martha & Dickie Blanchard found the nest close to Nest #18. There was a defined body pit with a crab hole but no crabs had gotten into the nest. The mama turtle took her time going back to the sea as she went for a stroll around the beach and behind a dune before returning back to the sea. Betsy Richards, Janie Lackman, Karen and Tony Natoli gave us their untiring assistance. How lucky we all are to share this wonderful experience with everyone. Martha B.

Inventoried 8/31 (1 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
12 un-hatched eggs
123 empty shells
136 total eggs

123/136 = 90% hatch rate - 90% emergence

Monday, July 12th

Nest #20 Zone 2, POA #18, 102 eggs, 3 broken, during probe as nest was very shallow, top layer of eggs only approx. 5” deep. One shell will be used for DNA research. 99 eggs relocated to higher ground along side of POA #18. Linda S, Micki M, Betsy K, Gerry B.

Inventoried 8/29 (40 dead hatchlings)

     3 eggs broken (1 broken egg taken for study)
   38 un-hatched eggs
   61 empty shells
102 total eggs

61/102 = 60% hatch rate - 21% emergence

Wednesday, July 14th

Nest #21 The J team - Joe, Johnsie, Judy and John - "loves it when a plan comes together." With an able assist from young Emily Rice, we found nest #21 this morning near POA #18. Two turtles came onto the beach there last night: one dug a hole but left without laying her eggs; something or someone(s) must've frightened or distracted her. Judy and Janie probed and dug at the first hole for quite a while to make sure there were no eggs. There weren't. The other mama put 124 eggs into her nest, #21. We moved 123 to a new location near the revetment between POA #17 and 18, and took one for testing. We thought we had a twofer at the site, and are thrilled that Betsy and Kathy found a nest today, too. Another great morning for Fripp's turtles and "turtlers".

Inventoried 9/01 (47 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
11 un-hatched eggs
112 empty shells
124 total eggs

112/124 = 90% hatch rate - 52% emergence

Wednesday, July 14th

Nest #22 Near POA #3, on the dune behind nests 3 and 4. The tracks on the hard sand were clear, the mama turtle came in before the low tide, maybe 2:30-3am, and left much later, 5-5:30,so we knew there would be a nest. The tracks above the last high tide line were wind-blown and very hard to see, but on the back side of the dune, there was disturbance and clear turn marks in the sand. We probed and probed in what seemed to be the body pit and were ready to mark it with a ? but I started digging where the tracks came in and out of the pit. I finally found the top eggs, at least 12 inches below the surface. It was a perfect place and mama turtle did a great job of hiding her nest, but we 'turtle ladies' are smart too. Thanks to Renata for driving Kathy to get the stakes. Another great morning for our Fripp Island beach and the turtles. Betsy K and Kathy G.

Inventoried 9/01 (0 dead hatchlings)

     1 egg taken for study
   14 un-hatched eggs
   71 empty shells
86 total eggs

71/86 = 83% hatch rate - 83% emergence

Monday, July 19th

Nest #24 Zone 2. After studying an apparent false crawl at POA #18, we continued on past POA #22 and found tracks, with a differential at the water line and obviously later this morning than the false crawl. She made her turn right up against the retaining wall, with a lot of thrown sand and loose old wrack. Micki made a few probes into hard sand, then two into very soft, we dug there and found the eggs very deep down. We decided to relocate the nest to access #17, and were surprised that there were only 54 eggs in the nest. 53 eggs were carefully put in the new nest #24, one egg saved for research. We had many tourists asking questions so it was a good chance for alittle turtle education. Good team work Micki M., Linda S., and Gerri B.. - Betsy K.

Inventoried 9/?? (17 dead hatchlings)

1 egg taken for study
23 un-hatched eggs
30 empty shells
54 total eggs

30/54 = 55% hatch rate - 24% emergence

Friday, July 23rd

Nest #25 North of POA #23. Mama roamed very little, you could see thrown sand, but it was not a clearly defined body pit. Cyndi found the nest almost on the outside rim of what we thought was the body pit. Cyndi, W. Ben T, Teresa P, & Robbie W. relocated 101 Eggs to POA #16 (1 egg taken for study). Janie and Kelly from the Charleston Sea Turtle Hospital brought the stakes to us. We were also assisted by our "intern" Emily who has been walking with us every day the past week or so. Another great day on Fripp with this nest and the very successful Turtle Crawl that took place this morning. Robbie W.

Inventoried 9/12 (2 dead hatchlings)

      1 egg taken for study
   7 un-hatched eggs
   94 empty shells
102 total eggs

94/102 = 92% hatch rate - 90% emergence