N23 Hatched!

Panama City Beach Turtle Watch

Some people go to dinner for their anniversary; hubby and I chose to nest sit at nest 23 (N23). N23 was overdue at 62 days (generally hatch between 50-60 days after being laid). A massive thunderstorm blew through at about 7 pm cooling the air temperatures, so we were cautiously hopeful the N23 would erupt on our watch (3rd time lucky we thought). If not, we at least hoped to see the Perseid Meteor Shower 2015 which is at peak viewing this past week.

N23 is located on St Pete Beach (15 minutes down the road from us) in front of a small bar with a blaring disco and lots of light and teenagers wandering about. Not exactly what you picture as a calm night sitting on the beach awaiting some turtle hatchlings to appear. But the music did give a festive atmosphere to the place and reminded us that up in our home city, Madeira Beach, Boy George and Culture Club were about to go on stage at our brand new recreation center and band shell overlooking the bay.

Given the light and noise issues (which can sometimes even delay the hatchlings from emerging as they sense it is unsafe), it was not surprising the nest was caged.  The cage is a temporary restraint so that the hatchlings do not wander off out of the nest in the wrong direction towards condo and street lights.

Example 'Drop'

No sooner had we settled in on our beach blanket some 20 yards away from the nest (see above comment about light and noise), then up walked a curious tourist. Having greeted them, I checked the nest and low and behold --- a 'drop' indicating the hatchlings were active underground and soon to emerge. The drop was about 2-3 inches deep and the size of a salad plate - very obvious as it hadn't been there a few minutes earlier. So excited were we that we danced to the music on the beach (a suitable distance from the nest I might add).



Only a few minutes later by about 9:15 pm there were masses of turtles literally erupting out of the sand - called a 'boil' for obvious reasons (see above video).  It was fantastic! These creatures about 5 cm round scurrying around in the restraining cage looking for the sea.  And they just kept coming - 79 in all. Sadly with all the light pollution from the condos and establishments on the beach the hatchlings all gathered to one side of the cage keen to move to the light and in the opposite direction of the sea -- call disorientation and hence the restraining cage.

Soon our Nest Captain arrived and removed the hatchlings from the cage into a cooler which was taken closer to the sea at the darkest nearby point we could find. Gently tipping the cooler allowed the hatchlings to walk across the sand, but still with the light created by humans they walked parallel to the sea for some distance and we had quite a job to ensure all made it into the water - the incoming tide didn't help as it washed a few back.  This process took a good hour and we finished by stretching out across the beach and sweeping it with our red lights to ensure no hatchlings had gone astray.

A number of tourists watched, including one German couple.This couple are very impressed with the Sea Turtle Trackers (STT) volunteers and our dedication to protecting our special marine wildlife. They were surprised that we are supporting the environment which helped to dislodge some of their preconceptions about Americans and waste. Next thing I knew I was being given a bear hug from the Germans thanking all the  STT Volunteers. One job well done.

N29 also had the potential to hatch, so off we went down the beach to check it out.  It is in a less lit section of the beach, so no restraining cage.  There was a dime sized hole -- either the beginning of a hatch or perhaps a ghost crab predadator or a rain hole????  In any event, nothing happened and off to bed we went.

Now you might ask - where are the night pictures -- well no camera flash, no mobile (cell phone) lights . . . means no pictures.  But I have included several shots of a rare daytime hatch and a video; you can see more at Sea Turtle Trackers Facebook page. Note:  the pictures are from a variety of events, not N23.

Too many clouds to see a meteor shower, but the lightning remained far offshore and

N23 hatched on our 23rd wedding anniversary - what a treat!