Sea Turtle Nest in Florida Keys

[valhalla]

Just looked and I don't even see the wind today  ???

[Donna]

Did they hatch.......did I miss it??? Go do a load of laundry and I see tracks and holes in sand.....hmmm 

[valhalla]

something just crawled out - don't know what - look now

[Donna]

something just crawled out - don't know what - look now

It was a crab, the guy moved it out of the way. I think this is a new nest....the sand looks whiter..what do you think janet?

[Judi]

something just crawled out - don't know what - look now

It was a crab, the guy moved it out of the way. I think this is a new nest....the sand looks whiter..what do you think janet?

I just peeked at the cam and I think you're right, Donna.  Either it's a new location or they moved the cam back a bit, the sign is not as close to the cam as it was before. 

[valhalla]

I saw the guy moving something this morning....

[Donna]

I saw the guy moving something this morning....

Nest 1      Failed to hatch by Aug. 25  Oh well so much for nest #1, now were watching nest #2. Hmmm.    Hopefully this one is better.

Approximate dates loggerhead turtles are
expected to hatch::
Nest 1    Failed to hatch by Aug. 25
Nest 2    Nighttime hours between Aug. 27 and Sept. 3
Nest 3    Nighttime hours between Sept. 1 and Sept. 9

[Judi]

Nest 1      Failed to hatch by Aug. 25  Oh well so much for nest #1, now were watching nest #2. Hmmm.    Hopefully this one is better.

Approximate dates loggerhead turtles are
expected to hatch::
Nest 1    Failed to hatch by Aug. 25
Nest 2    Nighttime hours between Aug. 27 and Sept. 3
Nest 3    Nighttime hours between Sept. 1 and Sept. 9

It's very possible that the nest was raided by predators (not just 4-legged but also 2 legged and winged), not an unusual occurance.  Keeping my fingers crossed for nest #2!

 

[Donna]

It's very possible that the nest was raided by predators (not just 4-legged but also 2 legged and winged), not an unusual occurance.  Keeping my fingers crossed for nest #2!

 

     


Environmental enthusiasts should be able to observe infant loggerhead sea turtles hatching and emerging from their nest, via this live streaming “turtle webcam� installed on a private beach on Big Pine Key in the Lower Florida Keys. The camera, funded by the Florida Keys Tourist Development Council, is currently focused on a second nest with eggs projected to hatch during the nighttime hours sometime between now and Sept. 3. The camera was previously trained on a nest that was expected to hatch between Aug. 17 and Aug. 25, yet no hatchlings emerged. Researchers plan to excavate the nest to determine what factors affected the predicted hatch.

[Donna]

I didn't see it but either they hatched or something has been digging in the nest.

Donna

[Caitie]

Posted on the site: 

August 28, 2009, 10:50 a.m.:
The camera has intentionally been turned off temporarily
and the streaming video will resume early this afternoon.
We will also be uploading video of the nest excavation Monday morning.
Thank you!

[Donna]

Environmental enthusiasts should be able to observe loggerhead sea turtles hatching and emerging from their nest, via this live streaming “turtle webcamâ€� installed on a private beach on Big Pine Key in the Lower Florida Keys. The camera, funded by the Florida Keys Tourist Development Council, was previously trained on a nest (Nest #1)  that was expected to hatch between Aug. 17 and Aug. 25, yet no hatchlings emerged. A second nest  of eggs (Nest #2) hatched during the nighttime hours on Aug. 27.  Due to natural predation by nearby raccoons, a small number of hatchlings were scavenged. Permitted beach surveyors excavated loggerhead Nest #2 and found a total of 84 eggs. Of these, 80 hatched successfully, including one live hatchling discovered and released during excavation,  and four unfertilized eggs.The camera is expected to be focused on a third nest with eggs projected to hatch during the nighttime hours sometime between Sept. 1 and Sept. 8.

It is important to note that in any turtle nest hatchings, natural predation by other animals - raccoons, seagulls, ghost crabs, even feral cats - is a normal occurrence. Viewers should understand this is a possibility, and to not be alarmed in the event this happens during such an extraordinary natural event. 

[Caitie]

THERE'RE HATCHING AT 8:52 PM MONDAY!! bguitar bguitar bguitar

[Caitie]

  One little turtle had such a hard time making it over the rope. Theres always a little Hammie struggling for an awwww moment but after a back flip back into his hole he finally made it and caught up with his brothers and sisters   (more pics on page 1)

[Donna]

That was amazing to watch!!!!