Sea Turtle Excursion.

Late September our family was

fortunate to be selected to go on an

excavation of a Sea Turtle nest 5 days

after the little ones had left the nest. 

The purpose was to monitor how many 

hatched and unhatched eggs were 

in the nest,as well as to free any hatch ling

stragglers there might. Some of them get

hung up in the soft shells and must be freed.

Some time the dig can get all the way up to the Shoulder.

It must be dug by hand, feeling to prevent injury to the stragglers.

The hatching's are a little larger than a quarter.

Above and below, trapped in the shell, and need assistance.

The hatched eggs are counted,as well as the unhatched, and

stragglers that are released. Careful records are kept.

There were 18 nests on Tybee Island this year,the 

record number is around 23. 

Below placed in a bucket where they will be released 

 to the ocean when count is finished.

Below there was a lecture before the dig and

5 month old grandson was mesmerized.

We're going to let them go

Below is Ike now in the Ocean some where off the Florida coast.

Thanks to the Tybee island Marine Science Center.