Fascinating Fun, Watch Sea Turtle Nest Excavation This Summer

Page 2, “Amelia Island Sea Turtle Nests Shatter Previous Record,” article continued from page 1 (July 5, 2019).

Attend A Nest Dig This Summer

The record number of sea turtle nests so far this season (through June 2019), is not just happening here on Amelia Island.  Some other Florida and Georgia beaches, as well, are shattering records through June 30, 2019. This includes nearby Cumberland Island, GA, located just off Amelia’s north end (see more Cumberland sea turtle news below).

Amelia Island Nest Excavations Start In July

Here on Amelia Island, the sea turtle nesting boom this 2019 season presents more opportunities than usual this summer to watch a sea turtle nest excavation.  A fascinating and fun experience, those who gather at the beach to watch a nest dig are sure to learn something new.

When attending an excavation, anticipation hangs in the balmy beach air. One never knows if a tiny hatchling, or perhaps a few, will be uncovered. If any are found alive in the nest cavity, they are released to crawl into the sea. A crowd pleaser, this is what many hope for, to watch the discovery of hatchlings alive in the nest. But many times none will be found.

Nevertheless, exploring the nest cavity is interesting to watch. It’s an important task, so volunteers can capture information about the nest’s success. They evaluate the contents and record data. Tallying how many total eggs were deposited (counting empty eggshells and any eggs that did not hatch). Sometimes dead hatchlings and partially developed eggs are in the nest. For newcomers to this experience, it’s a great way to learn about coastal nature and these amazing marine reptiles.

Caretta Caretta

The most abundant sea turtle species in Florida and Georgia are “Caretta caretta,” i.e. loggerhead sea turtles. This holds true elsewhere around the coastal beaches of America’s southeast and U.S. Atlantic waters. This year, a few green sea turtle nests have also been located here on Amelia Island, but no leatherbacks, yet (through June 30, 2019). It’s more rare for a leatherback, the largest type of sea turtle, to nest locally, but they do occasionally.

In What Months Are Excavations Held?

Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch volunteers typically conduct most nest excavations in July, August, and September to examine nest contents after the nest has hatched naturally (see example of emerged nest below). The public can watch these nest digs that are usually scheduled in the early evening or early morning. (See more excavation info, link to this year’s schedule further below).

Cumberland Island Sea Turtle Nests

Here at the Florida-Georgia border, Amelia Island’s next door neighbor, Cumberland Island, GA, is also experiencing a record number of nests, with over 800 recorded so far this 2019 season, through June 30, 2019.

Cumberland Island typically records the biggest number of sea turtle nests in the state of Georgia each year, and usually accounts for 25% to 30% of the state’s total. Being an undeveloped island, it’s a place with excellent, natural habitat for nesting as a protected National Seashore. But it’s also Georgia’s largest barrier island, with 18 miles of beaches.

Just like Amelia Island, the previous highest nesting record at Cumberland Island also occurred back in 2016. The large number of nests this year is welcomed news for the species. Ancient mariners, sea turtles have survived on Earth for millions of years. In modern times, however, there are a multitude of man-made challenges. These include “habitat encroachment and degradation, pollution, incidental capture in commercial fisheries, and strikes by watercraft,” according to the FWC.

2019 Sea Turtle Nest Excavation Schedule

The sea turtle nesting season on Amelia Island runs from May 1st, through October 31st. Each year, the earliest laid nests from May typically start to hatch in July. The first two public nest excavations of the 2019 season have been scheduled for Monday, July 8, 2019. One is happening in the morning at 7 am north of the Sadler Road beach access (near Fernandina’s Seaside Park). The other is happening in the evening at 7 pm further south on the island near the Scott Road beach access.

To see when a nest dig will be happening throughout the summer season, go to the excavation schedule posted on the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch website. Note that you must frequently monitor the AISTW website to get new updates as the excavations are announced. Not every nest dig is published, particularly when the nest is located on the beach where nearby public parking is lacking. Excavations are subject to change and may be cancelled on short notice due to inclement weather. Storms can blow up quickly in summertime’s heat. Browse additional sea turtle nesting data and more at the AISTW website.

How Beach Visitors Can Help Sea Turtles

Beach-goers can help sea turtles by respecting marked nests along the shoreline — never interfere with them. If you bring a dog to the beach, keep it on a leash. Follow the golden rule of “carry on, carry off,”  removing obstacles that may get in the way of the turtles. Take all beach gear you brought to the beach — including chairs, umbrellas, and canopies — off the beach when departing. Those who dig in the sand, please fill in holes and level sand castles before leaving the beach. Anyone walking the beach at night or early around sunrise who happens upon a mother sea turtle nesting, needs to stay a distance behind her and be quiet, so as not to distract her. Nighttime beach visitors, please don’t shine a flashlight at the turtle or use flash photography. And never touch mother sea turtle or pick up turtle hatchlings.

Report Sea Turtle Sightings

If you’ve come upon a struggling or stranded mother sea turtle (or disoriented sea turtle hatchlings), contact the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch at 904-583-1913. If you’re visiting a Florida state beach park throughout the Sunshine State, call FWCC’s 24-hour Wildlife Alert Number at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922). Also call to report anyone seen disturbing a sea turtle or nest.

Related Content:

FAQ

Browse frequently asked questions at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, including more info about what you can do to help sea turtles.

Also see previous articles published in Amelia Island Living eMagazine about sea turtles.