MOVING RIGHT ALONG 2!

Moving right along!  We now have 23 documented nests (those recorded and marked by Environmental Associates, Inc.) and about 13 "possible" nests according to my record keeping, for a grand total of 36 nests along our section of beach. The photo map included in this blog post shows the approximate location of all 36 of those nests. The white star "pin markers" designate the nests officially documented and marked by EAI, while the red star "pin markers" designate the "turtle crawls" that I have recorded and which possible show where a turtle nest has been laid - even though not officially recorded by EAI.  As had been indicated in previous postings, EAI sometimes only officially marks 1 out of every 12 nests, or 1 out of every 24 nests, depending on what section of the beach they are surveying.  Their crew are out seven days a week during the "season" (usually March through November), but follow different procedures for recording sea turtle nests along the various coast areas that they check each day during the season.  And, yes - this is the second posting for today, because my original "draft" got lost in "cyberspace" when I tried to "preview" it.  It's been interesting trying to get these postings on line, because MS's IE apparently no longer supports this Google blog space and so I have to go online through Google Chrome to write and edit this blog!  I think that it can still be viewed through MS's IE, but their "incompatibility" makes things a bit more difficult!  I hope that you can still view this through whatever provider's Internet service you are using.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG!

The photo map of sea turtle nests in this posting shows the approximate location of 36 sea turtle nests along our stretch of beach.  The 23 nests designated with a white "pin" on the map show where the 23 documented nests are as identified by the Environmental Associates, Inc. (EAI) crew.  The remaining 13 nests identified by this writer as "possible" sea turtle nests are designated with a red "pin" on the map.  EAI personnel ride up and down the designated beaches every day during the "season" (usually March - November) and typically mark only one out of every 12 nests, or one out of every 24 nests, that they find.  This writer, on the other hand, not only includes the ones that EAI officially mark, but also includes all "possible" nests, as identified by the "turtle crawl" marks left in the sand as the sea turtle comes out of the ocean and seeks a place to lay her eggs - it's usually a "U" shaped crawl out of the water, up to a point on the beach where the nest is dug and the eggs are laid, and then another crawl down the other side of the "U" and back into the water.

YOU WERE NOT FORGOTTEN!

Did you think that I had forgotten you?  No, it was just a slow start to the sea turtle nesting season.  The map in this posting shows the number and placement of the sea turtle nests to date.  You'll also find additional information in the other graphics which provides more detailed information of the nests to date. By the way, if you have not seen the DVD movie "Turtle: The Incredible Journey", you should get the DVD from one of the movie rental places and view it.  It's a great way to see how the sea turtle hatchlings make a 10 - 20 year circular journey in the Atlantic Ocean basin and return to the same shores to nest and lay their eggs for the next generations.  Apparently, they've been doing this for about 2 million years and may be able to do that for another "few" years - if we humans don't mess up the process too much more than we have done to date.

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