Sea turtle hatching season picking up on islands
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that hatching season is steadily picking up as 169 nests on Sanibel and Captiva had hatched and 12,463 hatchlings had emerged as of July 28. There were 626 nests still incubating on both of the islands, and SCCF staff and volunteers are hopeful that thousands of hatchlings have yet to emerge.
Of the incubating nests, 47 are being monitored with data loggers to determine how sand quality affects the incubation environment and hatch success. The research nests have temperature and moisture probes, and water-level loggers that collect data every 15 minutes throughout incubation. Sand size and color are also being quantified for each nest. Once the nests hatch, staff will examine any unviable eggs to identify when embryonic development ceased and determine which variables may have contributed. The SCCF hopes to learn what environmental factors are potentially impeding hatch success, and how the factors vary across the islands.
As the end of July neared, fewer nests were being laid in the region. Staff continued to monitor Sanibel throughout the night, seven nights a week, to intercept nesting females, document tags and collect morphometric information. In the two weeks prior to July 28, the sea turtle team encountered 54 turtles — 17 that had not been documented before were given new flipper and tracking tags. In the week prior to July 28, the team observed 14 nests being laid by loggerhead and green sea turtles. The last week in July marks the final week of nighttime monitoring for the SCCF.
To report any issues with nests, nesting turtles or hatchlings, call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663. For tips on how to safely share the shore with sea turtles, visit SanCapLifeSavers.org.