| MORNING SURVEY |
We begin our morning survey at
sunrise. Once on the beach we look
for sea turtle tracks.
sunrise. Once on the beach we look
for sea turtle tracks.
We can tell by the length of the track
and the amount of sand thrown if it is
nest. If it is a nest we build a barrier
around the area.
and the amount of sand thrown if it is
nest. If it is a nest we build a barrier
around the area.
A finished barrier has an information
stake and a sign telling that sea turtles
are endangered and you must not go
inside the barrier
stake and a sign telling that sea turtles
are endangered and you must not go
inside the barrier
About 50 days later we look for hatchling
tracks. There are usually about 100
eggs in a nest. Sometimes they come
out in a group. Sometimes they come
out one or two at a time.
tracks. There are usually about 100
eggs in a nest. Sometimes they come
out in a group. Sometimes they come
out one or two at a time.
This is a good hatch. There was no
artificial light source and the hatchlings
went right to the water.
artificial light source and the hatchlings
went right to the water.
Sometimes an artificial light source
causes the hatchlings to go away from
the ocean. The ocean is to the east,
but the hatchlings went west. This is a
disorientation.
causes the hatchlings to go away from
the ocean. The ocean is to the east,
but the hatchlings went west. This is a
disorientation.
The female turtles usually come on the
beach at night to lay their eggs. This
leatherback made an unusual day time
appearance and some of us got to see
her. We do not have many
leatherbacks on our beach, so this was
very exciting for the volunteers.
beach at night to lay their eggs. This
leatherback made an unusual day time
appearance and some of us got to see
her. We do not have many
leatherbacks on our beach, so this was
very exciting for the volunteers.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |