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I saw Sea Turtles Hatch

mikecat adjuster avatar
mikecat adjusterBeach Fanatic
2,655 views
I was watching the sunset across from the Tom Thumb in Seagrove, which was gorgeous btw, when someone walked over and said that the Sea Turtles were hatching. We had just discussed whether or not the nest was viable or not moments earlier.

Well, we headed on over to a group of others who were around the man-made barrier designating the turtle nest location. One man, I think Joe, who is a member of Turtle Watch, was there with a red flashlight and illuminated the opening in the sand.

I saw commotion within the hole and then the disticnt lines of a head and arms. The little rascal climbed from the hole and another turtle assumed the next position.

The first turtle headed in the correct direction, toward incoming waves, wasting no time. His steps were cute and his wiggle adorable. It looked like me when I'm drying myself off after a shower. Sorry for the visual 😀

Anyway, the waves have been red flag waves and as the turtle approached the water, it seemed that he recognized he was close because his pace quickened as he touched against the wetter sand. Then, sure enough, a wave came to him, backed him up initially, but then carried his little swimming body away.

The second and third turtles that exited the nest followed the same script and successfully disappeared into the Gulf.

The second turtle was examined by Joe of turtle watch and it was determined that the turtle was a loggerhead.

Everyone was respectful of teh turtles and somewhat knowledgeable. More turtles were expected from the nest. When they will hatch I am not sure. But it was a rare opportunity to view such a spectacle and I wish those turtles the best. Perhaps they will be in a future video, swimming out at Sea.

Replies

15
Hop avatar
HopBeach Fanatic
#2
I was watching the sunset across from the Tom Thumb in Seagrove, which was gorgeous btw, when someone walked over and said that the Sea Turtles were hatching. We had just discussed whether or not the nest was viable or not moments earlier.

Well, we headed on over to a group of others who were around the man-made barrier designating the turtle nest location. One man, I think Joe, who is a member of Turtle Watch, was there with a red flashlight and illuminated the opening in the sand.

I saw commotion within the hole and then the disticnt lines of a head and arms. The little rascal climbed from the hole and another turtle assumed the next position.

The first turtle headed in the correct direction, toward incoming waves, wasting no time. His steps were cute and his wiggle adorable. It looked like me when I'm drying myself off after a shower. Sorry for the visual 😀

Anyway, the waves have been red flag waves and as the turtle approached the water, it seemed that he recognized he was close because his pace quickened as he touched against the wetter sand. Then, sure enough, a wave came to him, backed him up initially, but then carried his little swimming body away.

The second and third turtles that exited the nest followed the same script and successfully disappeared into the Gulf.

The second turtle was examined by Joe of turtle watch and it was determined that the turtle was a loggerhead.

Everyone was respectful of teh turtles and somewhat knowledgeable. More turtles were expected from the nest. When they will hatch I am not sure. But it was a rare opportunity to view such a spectacle and I wish those turtles the best. Perhaps they will be in a future video, swimming out at Sea.



where is the camera homeboy? what good are you!?!?😀
mikecat adjuster avatar
mikecat adjusterBeach FanaticAuthor
#3
I know. I sent off my camera to be fixed yesterday. What timing. But I'll tell you, the things you can see here in South Walton County.
MaryAnneBeach Lover
#4
How exciting. One question, though. Wouldn't your flash have disturbed the little ones?
mikecat adjuster avatar
mikecat adjusterBeach FanaticAuthor
#5
Good question. But I would have used the video with no flash and the guy had the red light illuninating the situation. Yep, I had my camera phone but didn't take any pics with it because I wasn't sure how the heck it operated. I wasn't sure if it would flash or not. I'm kinda illiterate about this phone and not sure what the heck it would do. Some other people took pics without the flash. Dunno how it came out. But those turtles were so cute.
DuneLaker avatar
DuneLakerBeach Fanatic
#6
If I was more tech literate, I'd post video of turtle hatchings last September. I will add in just a minute pictures of turtles hatching last September, about this time, at Sugar Dunes. In the meantime, here are pictures you might not have seen of turtles hatching in this area about this time last year. This might do until more current photos are available for this years hatchings. I've got lots more videos. Just need help posting.



Edited

Scottie LoverBeach Comber
#7
We have a nest in our "back yard" that's due to hatch in the next few days. Can't wait to see the little cuties!
ASH avatar
ASHBeach Fanatic
#8
The nest in Stallworth Plantaion went Monday night. My wife and I went back this morning and two more had escaped Tuesday during the night and two more were coming up out of the sand as we arrived. They will spend the night in a cooler at my home and we'll release them tonight after dark.

I am a Turtlewatch volunteer and on the federal permit that allows me to hold the turtles until tonight.

Edited

Franny avatar
FrannyBeach Fanatic
#9
They are so darn cute!!:clap: Great post btw.😀
Just Curious avatar
Just CuriousBeach Fanatic
#10
The nest in Stallworth Plantaion went Monday night. My wife and I went back this morning and two more had escaped Tuesday during the night and two more were coming up out of the sand as we arrived. They will spend the night in a cooler at my home and we'll release them tonight after dark.

I am a Turtlewatch volunteer and on the federal permit that allows me to hold the turtles until tonight.

Q: why do you take them to your home. Just asking for informational reasons.
Skinn30ABeach Comber
#11
When is the next hatch scheduled? I've just moved to the area and am very interested in volunteering and I'd like to got out and meet the team. I also have some very good friends coming into to town this weekend and it would make their 4yr old's year to watch something like this. They get in this Friday the 18th and will stay until next Saturday the 26th.

I've studied the Turtle Watch Website and it looks like nests 23-30 may go in that time frame. What the nest referenced above #28?

Best,

Skinn30a
ASH avatar
ASHBeach Fanatic
#12
The nest at Stallworth was nest #25. Contact Sharon Maxwell who heads up the South Walton Turtle Watch group about volunteer opportunities. She can be reached at 850-685-6281.

The reason the turtles are kept until after dark is to best mimic their natural routine as turtle nests nearly always hatch after dark as well as to best camoflage the turtle in the hopes of them getting far enough from shore by daylight as to not be so visible to the many predators they must bypass to survive.

Thanks for asking questions. This is how we all learn.
Just Curious avatar
Just CuriousBeach Fanatic
#13
The reason the turtles are kept until after dark is to best mimic their natural routine as turtle nests nearly always hatch after dark as well as to best camoflage the turtle in the hopes of them getting far enough from shore by daylight as to not be so visible to the many predators they must bypass to survive.

Thanks for asking questions. This is how we all learn.[/quote]


Ash, thanks, but now I have more questions.

If the hatchlings are in the wild(no human contact), and they hatch during daylight hours would they wait until dark, or would they head straight to the water, and take their chances with predators?

Another question, Has anybody ever looked into a "turtle farm" to help re-populate the turtles we have coming to our beaches?
ASH avatar
ASHBeach Fanatic
#14
Good questions

The turtles would head for the water as long as it was the strongest light source as far as I know. They wouldn't likely know what they were crawling into as far as near shore predators. I'd venture to say they'd be fishfood within 20 feet of entering the water at 7AM. That's a great time to be surf fishing because there are so many in close feeding....if they got past the seagulls and ghost crabs.

As far as a turtle farm, that would be the last act to attempt to save the species and is happening in other parts of the world. Apparently those calling the shots haven't decided that we need to intervene to that point yet with the local populations. You question is actually quite common among people stopping walkers to ask questions. Many believe this is what we do when we find a nest.
NotDeadYet avatar
NotDeadYetBeach Fanatic
#15
It's unusual for a nest to hatch in the daylight. The trigger for emergence seems to be the cooler temperatures that come after sunset. The usual pattern is for the hatchlings to spend as long as several days digging their way up to the top, in short bursts of activity. The scratch around a bit, some sand falls down into the nest, which raises up the floor, then they rest, and so on. This brings them closer and closer to the surface and ordinarily they will rest there until it cools, and then they all leave at once. I think we might be seeing more stragglers and unusual hatching patterns this year because of all the rain and the cooler temperatures. If a nest does hatch during the day it is often in a rainstorm - the cooling tricks them into thinking it is time to leave. Also, the sand is wetter and heavier from all the rain, so the dig out probably is harder for them.

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