Turtle Tracking

For the past 3 mornings, hubby and I have been up before 5 am (yup you read that right, 5 am!) to go turtle tracking.  We start about 1/2 hour before sunrise.  Saturday (the 27th), we went out to our barrier island designated as a bird sanctuary - Shell Island or Shell Key as it is known locally.  It is a growing sand barrier island and a new island has also popped up (quite literally) just next door and has been named Outback Key.

In fact these islands have grown so rapidly, that on Google maps we were walking on water! Google cannot keep up!

Our ride; thank you Island Ferry

Our work begins with a boat ride - not a bad way to start the day even if it is early in the morning especially as we saw frolicking dolphins on our journey.  We then walk the sandy beach portion of the island - from the south, across the west and up the north which has recently connected to another barrier island. What about the east side you say?  Well the East  is mainly impassable mangrove swamp - and a great nursery for all types of sea life. More importantly to us, it does not have a sandy beach which is what a turtle needs to make a nest and lay eggs.

Unfortunately, we and the turtles & birds are not alone on Shell Island.  It is the 3 day Memorial Day weekend and we have plenty of campers, boaters and fishermen with whom to contend.

This American Oyster Catcher momma scolded us and then hopped back on her nest; do you see her beautiful eggs?

boaters & campers on the island point

Our 3.1 mile trek involves carrying supplies - not just water, bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and medical kit for us, but also cages and stakes for marking the nests we may find along the way.  

There are mangroves stretching across Shell Key we have to pass through, but we get to go where others cannot.Mangroves store carbon, filter heavy metals and protect against storm surges, but this stand died after flooding in last year's hurricanes & tropical storms. Watch out for the stumps which are trip hazards!

 

The cages are to protect the nest from predation by coyotes and raccoons, who just love those turtle eggs and baby turtles for a tasty snack.  Sadly it is even harder to protect the turtles from fire ants. No new nests on Saturday, but we have 19 so far and this is early in the season.  Go loggerhead turtles go!

Read the previous post to see tracks and nests.

Treasures of the day