Orange Beach H-1 on Sunday Morning
August 2nd: From Lisa Graham (OB Team Leader)
H-2 hatched close to 11:00pm? After a long wait [over 3 hours] and a threatening weather delay we saw 59 babies to the water. The turtle taxi was used as the lights from Phoenix [VI & VII] were still shining over and into the tarp and confusing babies. Tina and Karen released 3 more around 2:30am. Excavation Thursday (August 4th) 6:00 pm. Thanks to everyone for patiently waiting – always worth it!!
Lisa
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[Ed Notes]: When the hatchlings made it to the shoreline most of them turned to the right. Although we were a half mile away the bright white lights from the Turquoise cast a shadow and were drawing the turtles to the west. Luckily the tide was coming in and the surf was strong enough to capture the baby sea turtles before any had the opportunity to head back onshore.
Also, a few visitors were upset that they had missed the hatching. We understand the frustration when you wait patiently and respectfully then leave due to weather of other obligations and miss the hatching. We do not know when they will escape the nest (even when there are some at the top of the nest). All we can do is hope as many people get to experience this miracle as is possible.
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Hello! Where is this nest at? We would like to watch the excavation but weren’t sure where in Orange Beach this nest is. Is there a map of all of the nests along the coast or a list that has potentials to hatch to increase your chances of seeing one?
Cassie,
There is no map of nests along the Alabama coast, especially this year (we have more than 200 nests so far this season). However H-2 is near the Phoenix VI condo. It’s about half a mile east of the Turquoise towers. Here is a link to Google Maps for Phoenix VI on Google Maps.