Share the Beach - Alabama's Sea Turtle Conservation Program

From Orange Beach on Tuesday (5/24):

Laura found 2 false crawls this morning in E. She was so excited she could hardly talk!! Good job Laura!!! Crawl width was 36″. As you can see from the pics she made a quick in and out and then crawled about 141′ towards the dunes! Further than I have ever seen in OB with the exception of the 2 nests past the Youngs on the west end of OB.

From East Beach in Gulf Shores (05/24):

There were 3 false crawls reported, but the turtle was somewhat smaller than the one in Orange Beach. Good Luck East Beach, it’s time for y’all to get one.

From Dauphin Island (5/25):

An excited email (can you tell) from Lori S to the Dauphin Island team…

“Momma laying eggs NOW, 10:42 pm Let me know if anyone gets this email!”

Go Dauphin Island, here’s hoping y’all have another banner year!

From Ft Morgan and the Refuge (5/25):

“Someone must have done a big time turtle dance.
Tom Dodd reports 6 false crawls this morning!
Four were different track widths so there were
at least 4 mamas. Two had obstructions in their paths.

The Refuge had 2 nests and Dauphin Island had 1.
Our girls took their time but here they come.
We are ready for them.

Happy turtling!

The Debs”

From all the above traffic it looks like we’re off to a good start and might end May with a really good turnout from our nesting sea turtles. Dianne Ingram (USF&W Alabama Field Office in Daphne) sent the following about our 5 year monthly nest averages:

” The 5-year annual average number of nests laid in Alabama in May = 11, June = 43, July = 36, and Aug = 10, (Sept = 0.4) ”

Thank you Dianne.

From Mike (5/26):

” The Kemps (Ridley) that nested on the 14^th is due back on Saturday.

The Ft Morgan team is planning an extra midday patrol on Fri, Sat & Sun looking for her but the reality is she could show up anywhere. Stay alert to this issue for the next few days.

Thanks,

Mike Reynolds

Turtle Czar

Share The Beach

And finally from Orange Beach again (5/26):

“OB First Nest – H-1:

Whooohooo, Jennifer I. called me at 5:26 this am to report our first nest of the season!!! You think she was a little anxious to find something??? YOU GO GIRL – It was barely light when she called but as you can see from the pics, there was no missing this one.

She was a big Momma T.with a 48″ crawl width. I don’t blame her for not making it to the dunes after heaving that big body out of the water!!! The nest was deep to the top, 15″ but wider than most and only 22″ to the bottom. Greg, the other half of that team (Jennifer/Greg) was working with the LOF (Leave Only Footprints) crew. He and the crew came and staked off the area while Jennifer completed her patrol!!!

Cathy H found the eggs and under supervision, newbies, Tina K. and Rusti assisted in moving 127 big beautiful eggs to just beyond the MHTL. Great Job!!!

It was such an exciting morning and a great way to start the day!!!

And a special thanks to Liam – one of our Jr volunteers for helping dig the new nest chamber. Great Job Liam!

Thanks to Jennifer I., Greg, Cathy, Tina K., Rusti, Paul, Tina, Mark, Lance, Jerrie, Jude, Karen, Norm, Jane, Jennifer L., Pam, Lima, Sheree, Boyd, Dorie, Cindy, Eve. Hope that’s everyone as I do not have group pic yet. I know several of you are out of town or you would have been with us.

Love the selfie Greg took of the team trying to take a selfie LOL.