Blog Post by: Annie Gentry
It is unbelievable how quickly the end of my time at EBSP is approaching! I’ve learned a great deal over the passed few weeks; something new everyday. This week marks the end of our nightwalks which means that I have the opportunity to lead! Tuesday night was my first time presenting the entire PowerPoint on the loggerhead and I was surprised at how easily the information came to me! Following the presentation, Leah gave me the opportunity to switch roles and walk ahead of the group in search for turtle activity. I fortunately came across two nests that evening that hatched: one with several stragglers and one was a full boil! There was a new moon so the night was very dark, so the hatchlings were a bit disoriented. However, all in all I think that my first time leading a walk was successful! I am excited to lead again this Thursday with a little more confidence now that I have one under my belt :) On another note, I’ve gotten to see the not-so-glamorous side of my job as a sea turtle intern. On several morning patrols this month, I came across nests that have been predated. This means that the nest has been attacked by some of the beaches natural threats including raccoons, gulls, and my least favorite, fireants. Our protocol is to clear away the affected hatchlings so as to not draw attention from any other predators and hope that the other babies have a better shot! Amanda and I inventoried one of these nests the other morning during patrol and we were excited to see a high success rate despite the predation! Wildlife can be brutal, but that is the way the world maintains ecological balance. Nests are hatching left and right, and I’m excited to see the success rate as we continue our inventories and finish out the summer!
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Leah SchwartzentruberSea Turtle Biologist Archives
June 2024
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