turtle tracks
Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol
Where did the Summer of 2020 go?
E
very Spring, as we look at the calendar for the upcoming year, it seems like the sea turtle season will last forever. Walkers excitedly begin daily walks, tracks are discovered, false crawls are investigated, nests are found and marked, and anticipation builds for the first sightings of hatchings from each nest. In between those happy occurrences, we have other events that necessitate changes in plans. COVID, storm surges and tropical storms/hurricanes are a few of the challenges we face as a Sea Turtle Patrol team this year. As of this writing, the Nest Response Team has investigated 19 False Crawls and identified14 documented nests! The nests are spread throughout the 13 miles of the Emerald Isle beach strand. Already five nests have been completed. Amazingly, three of those nests hatched, or began to hatch, as Tropical Storm Isaias approached and/or was actively overhead! Happily, no nests were destroyed due to the storm. Many hatchlings have already scurried down the trench, anxious to reach the ocean and begin their long swim to the Gulf Stream. There, they will hide in the Sargassum seaweed and begin to grow. As mentioned in other articles, COVID necessitated some changes to our procedures at the nests. Safety for everyone became a big focus for us. In addition to the usual stakes marking off the official nest area, volunteers also erected an additional radius area
whenever volunteers were sitting at the nests or assisting with hatches. Volunteers, residents and visitors all contributed to the success of these efforts, thanks everyone! Storm surges can create challenges at nests. If the tide washes over and recedes, damage is generally not an issue. The problems arise when the water sits on top of the actual nest area. If the eggs are still intact, they can survive for a short time in standing water, but will rot if the water continues to engulf them. Hatchlings are air breathers, if the water fills the nest area after the hatchlings have emerged from the eggs, they will drown if submerged and trapped. With warnings of over wash, team members will usually try to protect the nests whenever possible. Happily, no nests were destroyed due to TS Isaias. Dedicated volunteers scrambled to protect each nest. Photos were carefully taken so that nests could be identified later if the nest tape and nest marker posts were blown away. Storm stakes were put into place in the dunes near the nest to help with location of nests after the storm. Dedicated volunteers stayed with several nests as long as they SAFELY could as Isaias moved in. To date this summer: We’ve had 527 hatchlings make it into the ocean, with an 82% average hatch rate success. To find current, up to date, information please visit our website at: eiseaturtlepatrol.org.
1440-B Salter Path Road Indian Beach, NC
C Toni Higgins 919-749-5374
Craig Van Dyke 252-503-0577
ct
OCEAN VIEW
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de Un
Live, work, play & prosper on the Crystal Coast We can show you how! 52
ISLAND REVIEW • September 2020
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SUMMER WINDS UNDER CONTRACT #306 - $349,000 CLOSED! #217 - $235555 UNDER CONTRACT #429 - $364,900
Jackie Davidian 252-723-3363
252-247-7040
OCEANSIDE
THE OCEAN CLUB CLOSED! 204-M - $319,000 UNDER CONTRACT 202-K - $279,000 UNDER CONTRACT 202-J - $315,000
SOUND VIEWS
CEDAR POINT VILLAS CONTRACT C-35 - UNDER $198,75 UNDER CONTRACT C-14 - $194,900
OCEAN VIEWS
RIVER ACCESS
SOUND VIEWS
1107 Emerald Drive $499,900
409 Tasha Terrace $272,000
1530 Salter Path Road # 34 $164,900
