Turtle Nest Inventory

Yup, big heads!

We have had the pleasure of meeting Turtle Joe and Theresa of Sea Turtle Trackers and learning a bit more about Loggerhead Sea Turtles - the main type of turtle nesting on our West Florida beaches.

Loggerheads lifespan is similar to humans, they grow to circa 350 pounds and they reproduce every 3 years or so with the female laying up to 6 nests in any one season.  Nests hold 70-100 eggs each and are quite deep - about 3 feet down.  The mamma emerges from the sea to lay eggs when the water temperature reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit and eggs in one nest may have been fertilised by different males. 

Turtle sex is determined by temperature (similar to alligators) with warmer sand producing females.  About 1 in 1,000 hatchlings live to adulthood.

Nest ready for hatching in front of my condo

A nest takes 50-60 days to hatch and to protect hatchlings from predators (such as birds) a cage is often put over the nest close to hatching.

The turtles hatch under the sand and when all are hatched the dig their way to the top when the sand begins to cool - after sunset.  The emerging turtles are called a 'boil' and you can see why here.

 

Once the nest has hatched, a nest inventory is required counting the number of hatched and un-hatched (undeveloped) egg shells along with any partly developed eggs (pipped).  This information all goes into a report for the State of Florida and is used in the compilation of turtle statistics.

The shells are put back into the sand to nourish the beach and the ground carefully patted down.  And then the nest marker is removed and all traces of the nest are gone. 

Another glorious day on the beach!