Sea Turtle Daytime Nester at DeBordieu

Nature is full of exciting surprises, especially here at DeBordieu.
Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles usually perform this ritual at night. Occasionally momma sea turtle gets a head start. This was the case yesterday when a turtle laid eggs in her nest in the afternoon. See Betsy Brabson's update below and some outstanding pictures documenting the moment.

An email update from Betsy Brabson.

Dear Volunteers,

We got a call about 6:15 p.m. from DeBordieu Security that a turtle had come up on the beach near Walkway #6! Bill and I rushed over to the beach fearing there would be lots of people surrounding the turtle. Instead, we found a totally empty beach and the turtle already dropping her eggs! We both tried to get a signal on our phones to call some of you but there was no reception in that area...so sorry. We were able to reach Susan. The nest was near Kathi's house and she saw the small group when she was out walking her dogs. The turtle was on the beach over an hour and successfully nested. On her return to the ocean, she was doused with the ceremonial bucket of water to refresh her. Bill was able to measure her carapace (99 cm notch to tip/98 cm notch to notch/91 cm wide) and proclaimed her a large, healthy loggerhead! She made her way into the waves and came up for one last breath before disappearing into the deep.

Susan had the honors of probing and finding the egg chamber. The nest was in a good location even though it was a bit south of the rust roof house and we left it natural. The location was 84 yds. south of Walkway #6.


Bill and Kathi wondered if this is the same turtle who had the crawl today that gave them, Robin, Brandi and Jackie such a workout. Maybe she was so desperate to deposit her eggs that she braved a daytime nesting!


Betsy & Robin
www.debordieuscute.org