huga Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 (edited) My mum volunteers for the local Coast Care group, so she'll let me know that there's a nest dig on but I often can't get there. Yesterday I could for the first time in ages and the kids and I went down to watch. Coast Care interfere as little as possible, so they wait for the turtles to run and then dig up the nest to collect data on egg numbers, health, losses and all that stuff. Usually there are a few stragglers and they release them too, which is what draws the crowds. The release takes some time because they have to make the journey to the water themselves (it helps unfurl and strengthen their limbs) and they'll finally make it to the water only to be washed back up again a few times. There ended up being 6 live ones sifted from the nest yesterday, only 6 of 30 that made it out of 117 eggs. That's quite a low number, it's usually much higher - the nest was higher up the beach than normal, it was dug up by a fox early on and probably due to that, the roots of plants ended up binding up the sand and eggs so they were unable to hatch and dig their way out. It's always such a lovely thing to see, regardless. Edited March 30, 2016 by huga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazydoglady99 Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Wow!!! Thats incredible!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 (edited) Edited March 30, 2016 by huga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PossumCorner Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Lovely record of their work Huga, seriously disappointing hatch-rate though eh?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 Lovely record of their work Huga, seriously disappointing hatch-rate though eh?. Yeah they were disappointed and puzzled, they'd never seen anything like it before and they've been recording all the data for 9 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Lovely photos. I was lucky enough to help out years ago when the turtles came ashore to lay their eggs. We took measurements etc. I love the photo of that beautiful speckled dog too! What is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 He's a Koolie x ☺ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 awww..the pics of thye root mass/dead hatchlings and eggs is heartbreaking . Little fins wending their way seaward tho ? Marvellous!! Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 What an amazing experience! It is on my bucket list. Thank you for such amazing photos of it Huga. We are so lucky to live in a country like this with that on our doorstep! Oh and I'm also very sad about the low numbers. I hope it turns around and that it isn't a sign of the health of the environment those babies are being born in to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Safe travels little turtlets xxxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisys Mum Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 I watched a doco on Foxtel once and they said that the percentage of them that do make it to the ocean are at risk from predators as well .... They are so cute ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 Yep they do! Hatching and making it to the water is only the first step. Less than 0.2% survive to the age of 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Yes, I should have said, safe travels and long life little turtlets. Live long and prosper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 I'm surprised people brought their dogs along. Were they interested in the turtles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 It's a dog beach ???? Lots of people going for walks etc and get curious and come over for a look. Everyone was really sensible and put them on lead when they realised what was going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ari.g Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 All great photo's, though I absolutely love these two photo's!!! What a great experience. I saw someone say there were hatchlings at Yaroomba last week. I will get down to one one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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