May 27, 2010 - First Nest of the Season!

Total Nests - Update as of September 2, 2010

15 nests - Project Area

25 nests - West Beach Area

18 nests - East Beach Area

Nests Hatched: 45

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May 21, 2009 - First Nest of the Season!

Photos Taken by Michelle Robinson - May 21, 2009 - Oak Island, NC

9-24-09 Update

False Crawls: 68

Nests: 56 (5 lost)

Estimated Eggs to Date: 4388

Eggs Lost: 76

Emerged Nests: 41

Inventoried Nests: 48

Hatched Eggs: 3205

Emerged Hatchlings: 2963

Turtle Nesting Season began May 1st. Please turn off ocean front lights and please remove trash from the beach. Remember that it is against the law to disturb sea turtles and their nesting areas.

• The majority of the nests are located west of Middleton The earliest nest comes in range to hatch – July 20 (incubation period between 50 and 85 days) The majority of nesting turtles on Oak Island are loggerheads (Green’s, Kemp’s and Leatherback’s are known to nest on occasion along the Carolina coasts) Nesting season continues thru mid-August – remember to keep beach free of litter and turn off ocean front lights
• If you see a nesting turtle – stay back and allow her to settle and begin nesting – observe at a distance…. Police may be notified if there is a problem – otherwise report to Recreation Dept. –278-5518 – and nest will be verified the following day.

( Observe but do not disturb adult turtles or hatchlings – fines for harassment of endangered and threatened species.)

• If you find a stray hatchling – please place hatchling in the water and notify the Recreation Department – 278-5518 – or if after hours the Police Dept. (non emergency) 278-5595. PLEASE turn off ocean front lights – especially during hatching season – light disorients the hatchlings and can cause them to go away from the ocean HELP US HELP THEM – please remove all litter/trash from the beach… turtles and other marine and wild life often mistake trash for food – this can be deadly….. If you see an injured or dead turtle – please report to the Recreation dept. – 278-5518 or Police Dept. 278-5595
• Turtle information available at the Ocean Education Center – located at 4902 East Beach Drive (behind the Skate Park)

On behalf of the OAK ISLAND SEA TURTLE PROTECTION TEAM – our thanks for your help and support. Sea Turtle Protection souvenirs are available for sale at the Recreation Center – located at 3003 East Oak Island Drive – open M-F – 6:30am-9pm, Saturday – 9 am-5pm.

If you would like to contribute to the Sea Turtle Protection Program, please mail your donation to:

Sea Turtle Protection Program
4601 E. Oak Island Dr.
Oak Island, NC 28465

Email: Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program

Turtle Nests - 2008

Project Area (16th East - 60th East) 20 nests

East Beach (Middleton - 16th East, 60th East-McGlamery) 24 nests

West Beach (Middleton - Point) 37 nests

 

51 nests hatched - 4488 Hatchlings swam aay

418 eggs in 36 of these nests were lost to fox predation

 

First nest laid May 24

Hatching began July 28

Last nest laid July 30

Largest nest 174 laid June 7

Smallest 24 laid July 17

76 volunteers (or more including friends and family) helped montor nests during the summer, some watching over more than one nest. Thanks to everyone who participated!!

Sea Turtle Video by Betty Wallace 2007

Staff is not authorized to give out nest information. A map will be posted at the Oak Island Recreation Center located at 3003 E. Oak Island Drive with general nest locations.

Remember to turn off ocean front lights. Do not dig holes or locate tents next to nest sites.

Sea Turtle Protection News (3-27-07):

Discarded monofilament (fishing line) poses a major threat for wildlife and the environment, and it is in everyone's interest that it be disposed of properly and recycled. The North Carolina Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program of the Cape Lookout Studies Program (NC Maritime Museum)'s objective is to raise awareness of the problem and set up stations to safely discard used monofilament, which can then be recycled.

Photos below were submitted by Sue Potter, taken on Oak Island 8-8-09: