August 11th 2011: At 10 PM the N.E.S.T. hotline got a call from some beach goers who just got back from the beach watching a turtle return to the ocean after laying 133 eggs. NESTers were called and Jackie and Jill came from their nest sitting duties to track down the nest. It was discovered on a narrow part of beach that washes out frequently in September so it was relocated to the foot of the dune. We're hopeful this nest will last through the typical fall storms and we'll see these hatchlings come out sometime in October.
October 12th 2011: We are on day 62 of incubation and will start to "nest sit" on the 15th (day 65). The nest has been checked every day but it's not showing any signs of activity. This nest has not had a single 90 degree day to warm it and it was probably splashed over during Irene (but the markers were still in place when we returned after Irene). Keep your fingers crossed.
November 22th 2011: Yesterday was day 100 for Nest #18 in Duck. Unfortunately, this nest has been washed over several times. Because the wash over has occurred during the final stages of development when oxygen is the most critical, we are very concerned that these hatchlings have not survived. Nest Volunteers will be doing an excavation of the nest tomorrow (Wednesday, November 23) at 3:30.
November 23th 2011: On Wednesday we excavated nest #18 and found that the nest was dead. The hatchlings had stopped developing at a pretty late stage of development. A combination of the cooler temperatures and wash over likely stopped this nest in its final stages. It is always sad to see when they get so far and then nature throws them a curve ball but that’s the strategy these guys have developed and I suppose it has worked for them for millions of years. I think we were given a bit of a “silver lining” when we looked out to the horizon and saw the most spectacular display by a whale that I have ever seen from the beach. Probably about half a mile offshore we saw a right whale breaching near completely out of the water. It repeated this several times over the next 10 minutes as it headed south. Some breaches were head out and others were backflips, flukes up in the air. It was the most incredible display I have ever seen and from a critically endangered animal estimated at just over 400 left of. Our spirits were certainly lifted!