Nest Mother
Since moving to the beach, I have had the unique experience of participating as a volunteer with N.E.S.T., which is the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles. N.E.S.T. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the habitats and migration routes of Sea Turtle and other marine animals on the Outer Banks of North Carolina from the Virginia border to Oregon Inlet.
The Outer Banks of North Carolina is one of the northernmost ranges for sea turtles. Sea turtles visit the Outer Banks during early- to mid-summer to lay eggs. Those eggs hatch 55 - 80 days after they are laid. An average sea turtle nest contains 75 - 150 ping pong-sized eggs.
Sea turtle hatchlings are approximately 2 inches long. It is estimated that only 1 sea turtle hatchling in 1,000 survive to maturity, which is approximately 18 years old. Weighing 250 - 400 pounds, adult Loggerheads can grow to more than three feet in length. There are five species of sea turtles that visit the Outer Banks. All sea turtles are threatened or endangered and they are protected by the Endangered Species Act. Loggerhead and Green sea turtles are the most common turtles to visit the Outer Banks.
As a N.E.S.T volunteer, I have responded to turtle strandings, and done early morning “turtle patrol” looking for turtle crawls which indicated nesting activity.
But the best part is nest sitting. When a nest was laid recently in the four wheel drive area of Carova near where I live, I had the opportunity to nest sit for three Mondays in a row. We monitor the nest from 7:00 pm until 2:00 am looking for any indication of hatching activity. My husband likened it to watching paint dry. But the third week we were rewarded with a “boil”. This is where 98 of the cutest little hatchlings you ever did see came boiling out of the sand all at once!! And those buggers were FAST!! They had their little flippers going at an incredible rate and they made an absolute bee-line for the ocean. It was the coolest thing. Now those sweet little 2” turtles are out in that big ocean and will make it all the way to Africa before the females reach maturity and come back to this very beach to lay their own nest.
It certainly has been my pleasure to be a part of this amazing process, and I look forward to the opportunity to be a “nest mother” next year!
Your guest blogger
Karen G in Corolla
i was actually looking for scott stockdales work. i read the article on assisting the sea turtles with nesting. i live on the coast in gulfport, ms and went thru katrina. i have always Loved turtle and do create some great pieces in clay. not pushing, simply want to share that with you. you can see them at my web site www.beckydennis.com under amazing turtles. one piece clay wallhanging with baby sea turtles emerging from the sand even made it through katrina. my Vet had it in her home that was destroyed and found it in the mud unbroken. the message on the back said "may you weather the storms of life with love." that is part of my work. has a depth to it and a bit of mysticism. anyway, i will check this area out more. kinda tired now. thanks for sharing!!!
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