The sea turtle nesting season is all but over. In the last two weeks, only eight new nests have been laid (compared to 81 nests the previous two weeks). A few more nests might be laid sporadically over the next several weeks (nesting season officially ends Oct. 31). 

Nonetheless, SCCF’s sea turtle volunteers have been busy monitoring all the incubating nests each day to survey for signs of hatchling emergence and predation and to conduct nest inventories. 

With 340 nests still incubating, four teams of volunteers are out monitoring the beaches for five, six, sometimes seven hours at a time every day. Working tirelessly through the buggy mornings and into the hot afternoon, SCCF’s dedicated volunteer team collects data vital to understanding nest productivity and to statewide recovery efforts. 

Volunteers are vital to the SCCF Sea Turtle Program’s success. They also serve as representatives of this passionate community and beach stewards dedicated to protecting these important animals.

Our total count of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests is currently at 906, with last year’s record at 917. The current total count of green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests is 24.

Pictured here, Volunteers Irene Nolan, left, and Lynn Meline carefully inventory a nest by counting the total number of hatched and unhatched eggs inside the chamber.

Photo by Shane Antalick