Nesting down across the state

posted: September 10, 2014, 9:17 PM

We know the number of nests on Holden Beach is down this year (only 19 nests) and according to an article in the Sunday, September 7, 2014 Wilmington Star News ---- http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140907/ARTICLES/140909759/0/search --- this is true across the whole state.

The articles says: "The number of sea turtle nests along the North Carolina coast plummeted this season following four years of steadily increasing numbers. Though the decrease was drastic – a 58 percent drop from last year – it's not concerning, according to experts.The numbers so far are about 30 percent below average, which is typically about 750 nests per year," said Matthew Godfrey, a sea turtle biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. "That's within the range of normal fluctuation, so I think it's perfectly normal. There's nothing that jumps out at me that we should be worried about."As of Friday, 549 nests had been laid along the state's coastline, down from 1,303 in 2013. Last year's nesting season was the busiest nesting season in North Carolina's history, and both biologists and sea turtle volunteer coordinators had anticipated a decline this summer, though not one quite this large."

On Holden Beach, the nests we have are still hatching and patrol members are on the beach in the evening. Nest # 9 closed over the weekend (unfortunately only a few babies and many unfertilized eggs) and nest # 14 boiled last night on day 57 with 91 gorgeous babies. Yeah! (see photo of the 7:15 p.m. boil!)

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