The Memorial Day Holiday weekend started off early with Nest 4 being found by Walkers Ruth Ann Henderer, Kathy Chamberlain, Kathy Francis and Pat and Valerie Luzadder. Bill Greubel responded and found the nest which was left in situ near Boardwalk 3.
Nest 3 - Sunday, May 20th
The day started early with a crawl between boardwalks 1 & 2. Valerie and Mark Doane along with Rachael, Marshal and Neva Carter found the crawl. Mark and Valerie are both Walkers and Probers today. They found the eggs with a little investigating; marked our 3rd nest and then continued to walk zone 3. Sandy MacCoss arrived and it was decided that the nest needed to be relocated. All pitched in and moved the nest to a safer location.
Meanwhile, Diana Cohen called to report a crawl in the protected bird nesting area on North Beach. She and the other walkers marked the area with orange tape and the Doanes and Sandy were notified to probe after finishing nest 3.After extensive probing it was decided that this was a false crawl. It has been marked and the area will be watched when it is hatching time.
Nest #3 Carters and Doanes
Neva Carter finds her first crawl
Rachael and Neva Carter helping relocate the nest
Nest 2 - Saturday, May 19th
Bill Greubel was out walking the beach early this morning in a driving rain storm. Starting at 6:20 AM he called in two crawls. One was about 100 yards north of boardwalk 3. Shortly after that he called again with a crawl near boardwalk 2.
Sandy MacCoss and Terry Fansler were sent out in the downpour to probe. Terry found nest 2! It was the crawl near boardwalk 3. They determined that the nest needed to be relocated and moved the 147 eggs to a new pit which Bill Greubel dug.
Bill Greubel probed the crawl near boardwalk 2 but it ended up being a false crawl.
Thanks to all for weathering the elements this morning!
We have Nest #1 !!
Walkers Joleen Ardaiolo, Alison Bowers, Sandy MacCoss and Kathy Noel found our first crawl of the season in front of the protected bird area on North Beach. Bill Greubel responded with the Turtle Patrol truck and he and Sandy MacCoss probed. Sandy found the nest which was left in situ above the high tide line. We weren't able to get our usual nest photo because we had to limit traffic in the protected bird area. We do have a picture of the crawl. (see below)
Start Date Moved Up
We just heard from the Department of Natural Resources that the Loggerheads have begun nesting on area beaches. As a result, we will begin patrolling the beach on Thursday, May 10th.... tomorrow!!
Let's hope the early start is a sign that we'll have a great season!