Sea turtles set new nesting records in Georgia, Florida

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By RUSS BYNUM

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Wildlife biologist Doug Hoffman and his two interns kept busy this summer finding, cataloging and protecting a whopping 570 nests that giant loggerhead sea turtles had filled with eggs along the unspoiled beaches of Cumberland Island.

"It's a lot of physical effort," said Hoffman, a biologist for the National Park Service on federally managed Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast. "You're talking about being in the sun, hauling equipment and digging holes, pounding stakes."

All the hard work seems to be paying off. Researchers say sea turtles rebounded from a slump last year to deliver one of the strongest summer nesting seasons on record on beaches from the Carolinas to Florida.

Preliminary numbers from Georgia show scientists and volunteers counted a record 2,292 loggerhead nests during the season that runs from May through August. It's the fifth season in six years that Georgia has surpassed its previous record.

FULL story at link.



In this Aug. 13, 2015 photo made available by the University of Central Florida, green turtle hatchlings emerge from their nests at the Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge in Melbourne, Fla. Florida's nesting season still has a month to go, but scientist have already counted a record 12,000 nests dug by endangered green turtles. Other turtles have also had a nesting comeback in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. (Gustavo Stahelin/University of Central Florida via AP)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/699a1e82cc1b4a35a6d13caab525b901/sea-turtles-set-new-nesting-records-georgia-florida

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Marta and I donate to a couple different turtle rescue sites. We have sponsored turtles in the wild including nests.


Here is a good one. You can donate here: https://seaturtles.org/support-us/donate/


We recommend renting this video: http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Turtle-The-Incredible-Journey-Blu-ray/27584/#Review

[mountain grammy]

1. Thanks, Steve

for bringing us the wonder of nature and the heroic efforts to save it.

[ladjf]

2. Finally some good news. We don't get much of that. nt

[shenmue]

3. Even turtles have a better love life than I do

[swilton]

4. Thanks for posting this!

My sons as teenagers worked off Savannah, Ga. on Wassau Island to assist with this effort!

[Dont call me Shirley]

5. Oh, that will piss Rush off, he hates those turtles, they interrupt his way of life.

go turtles go!

[ANOIS]

6. I've been to Cumberland Island.

So happy the baby turtle yield is so great on this very pretty almost unspoiled place.

[swilton]

7. We found a baby loggerhead on Cumberland Island

Took it to the Ranger and they told us just to let it go - So we put it in the ocean and hoped for the best.

[DirkGently]

8. Excellent. Good job, Melbourne, FL. n/t

[cheapdate]

9. Wonderful news. Best of luck to all the new hatchlings!

The OP mentioned scientific findings that being in or near water can make you happier. I can testify that's true. I spent the long weekend bobbing in the gentle swells and clear emerald green waters at Panama City Beach, Florida and I couldn't feel better.

Saint Andrews State Park. Panama City Beach, Florida. 9/5/2015
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[d_legendary1]

10. Beautiful animals

And cute when they're babies. I remember helping one that was stuck in the storm drain in Key Biscayne. I took it to the beach and off he went. I hope the little guy is okay. He/She would be twenty two years old today if it lived that long.

[Judi Lynn]

11. So glad you helped that little critter back to the ocean. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

12. Wonderful news, wonderful photos, and links. Thank you for your efforts, Omaha Steve. n/t