We have Nest 13! Walkers Beverly Stribling and Joleen Ardaiolo called from Zone 1 with a crawl 50 yards short of the cross at the far southern end of the beach. Linda and Bill Nelson responded. The mama hit the escarpment and went about 15 yards along the reeds. Starting at both ends of the track, Linda and Bill probed the crawl. Linda found the nest with 108 eggs. 105 unbroken eggs were moved to a location above the high tide line about 100 yards south of the downed tree. The Nelson's granddaughter Savannah assisted in the relocation along with Beverly and Joleen
Nest 12
Karen Sewell, & Betsy, Chris & Sarah Quinn (and friends) reported a crawl just past the Yellow House near Boardwalk 6. Sandy MacCoss and Terry Fansler responded to probe the area. Terry found our 12th nest! Since the eggs were laid below the high tide line, 70 eggs were relocated. The 71st egg was used for DNA research. The new nest is now located just south of the 4th house from the Club. The finer mesh screen was also installed to keep the raccoons at bay.
Unfortunately, Terry and Sandy's work was not done. About the time they got back from the nest, we received a report of a stranded turtle between boardwalks 2 & 3. So they headed out again. Bill & Pat Greubel also responded. They found a dead Kemp's Ridley sea turtle that had obviously gotten tangled in some kind of netting (see photo). Bill completed the Stranding Report for the DNR and they buried the carcass in the dunes.
Nest 11
Chris Czander, Sue Glover and Sarah Quinn found a crawl at the second house past the club. The Middleton's responded and found the nest! The 102 eggs were moved to a location at the 4th house past the club.
Nest 10
Walkers Rob & Melanie Jerome, Rob’s sister Ruth, Catherine Scully, Sue Thomas, Gary Holtz and Mike Vinson started the day right with a promising crawl with a body pit 100 yards south of Boardwalk 5. Bill & Linda Nelson responded. After much probing and removal of a layer of sand, the 103 eggs were found 24 inches down. They moved it back to 200 feet south of Boardwalk 5. Two screens were alternated on top of the nest to deter the nasty raccoons.
Unfortunately, on a sandbar almost to the Kiawah River a small headless turtle was found. Terry Fansler, Bill Greubel & Mike Vinson from the Stranding Team gathered the necessary information for the DNR Stranding Report and buried the remains.
Nest 9
We have Nest #9! Walkers Mimi Montague, Karen Preston, Pixie Hider and Lynne Madison found the crawl into the myrtles near Boardwalk 3. Judy Morr was called to probe. Unfortunately, a racoon found the nest first. 18 eggs were breakfast for the thief. The remaining 110 eggs were moved to a new location the racoon hopefully won't find just south of Boardwalk 4. The North Beach Walkers who were new this year came to see the process and helped install the new screen.
