Nesting loggerheads leave an army crawl like-pattern in the sand .
NESTING TIME A female loggerhead will mate and nest every two to three years . In the dark of night , she will slowly make her way up the beach , leaving an army crawl like-pattern in the sand . Finding a spot between the high tide line and dune front , she will use her body and all four flippers to dig as far as possible , creating an egg chamber .
“ From early May to early August , female loggerhead sea turtles come ashore , dig holes roughly 2 to 3 feet in depth , lay golf-ballsize eggs , cover them with sand and head back to sea ,” explains Sea Island Lead Naturalist Haley Watkins .
During this nesting season , each female will lay three to five nests about two weeks apart . In 2022 , Georgia broke nesting records with over 4,000 nests . Each nest will hold around 100 to 150 eggs . Interestingly , the temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings , with cooler temperatures producing males and warmer , females . The eggs incubate in the sand for about two months before hatching .
“ From early July to October , thousands of hatchlings emerge and scramble toward the ocean ,” Watkins notes . “ Last summer , Sea Island had a record setting year with 144 nests and over 9,500 hatchlings !”
Crawling out of the nest , these baby turtles move toward the brightest horizon , ready to begin their world voyages .
SEA TURTLE WALKS
| BY JOE RADA |
Members and guests look for hatchlings during Sea Turtle Dawn Patrol .
Guests and members can learn about coastal ecology at the Sea Island Nature Center .
The Sea Island Nature Center offers many experiences , but its sea turtle programming is , by far , the most popular . “ Throughout summer , shortly after sundown , we guide members or guests out on the beach and watch for loggerhead activity during the Sea Turtle Night Walk ,” says Sea Island Lead Naturalist Haley Watkins . “ A related early morning program , Sea Turtle Dawn Patrol , takes members or guests on golf carts to explore five miles of beach in search of newly laid sea turtle nests or hatchings .”
Among the educational aspects of these outings , a very important one is learning how not to disturb the endangered sea turtle species . Avoid flash photography , as it startles turtles and confuses their instinctual patterns . Only carry red-light flashlights , which are provided on Sea Island guided tours ; because sea turtles are not sensitive to the color red , they are safe to use . Regular flashlights are too bright and look like the moon to sea turtles , which can lead them in the wrong direction . Don ’ t get too close and don ’ t block their way , which includes knocking down any sandcastles you build , filling in holes you dig on the beach , and removing any beach items like chairs and coolers — all of which can hinder the turtles ’ journey to and from the ocean .
22 SEA ISLAND LIFE | SPRING / SUMMER 2023