Loggerhead Hatchling Rescue - Thank You SCCF Turtle Patrol Volunteers

Sanibel, FL (92 degrees, HOT)

Railroad Vine (blooms in the morning)

We were told of another three day dig of two loggerhead turtle nests and went out early to meet up with the SCCF (Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation) turtle volunteer.  Be sure to read our earlier post for more information about loggerheads by clicking this link   Turtle nests are closely monitored on Sanibel and Captiva by a very dedicated group of volunteers.  In this case, the nest had hatched three days ago and the volunteer digs up the nest to monitor certain conditions.  We arrived early and enjoyed walking along the beach.  

Sandwich Terns

Ruddy Turnstones & Black-bellied Plovers

I think my favorite shore bird is the Ruddy Turnstone.  What a busy little bird.  He uses his wedge shaped bill to flip over stones, shells, and debris looking for tasty morsels.  It's fun to watch them flipping over everything within their path.  

We found the nest and waited for Irene to arrive.  She was a little late because a Green Turtle Test had been found this morning.  This is a very rare event.  

Turtle Nest (see depression where hatchling emerged)

Irene quickly started digging and found lots of eggs.  Most of them had hatched. She dug and dug pulling out more and more.  

Eggs which did not hatch

Suddenly a small live hatchling appeared in her hand.  Wow!  It had been trying for three days to get out of the nest and could not find it's way out.  Irene thought it had gotten tangled in some of the roots in the sand. 

Suddenly there were four little hatchlings.  Needless to say the crowd was very excited.  She quickly put them in a dark bucket and added a little bit of sea water and sand to recreate the nest environment. She covered the bucket with a dark towel and told us where they would be released in the evening. Letting them go out to sea now would be too dangerous.  There were lots of shorebirds around looking for breakfast.  Hatchlings leave the nest at night and even with these precautions it's a tough life for them.  It's a very hungry world out there.

The hatchlings were tumbling all over themselves in the bucket and appeared to be very healthy.  Irene said the little turtles would calm down once she covered the bucket.  We decided to return in the evening to bid them farewell.

Our friend, France's picture

Florida Softshell Turtle

As we were driving home we saw this turtle in the middle of the road.  This is a Florida Softshell Turtle and a favorite food for the alligators.  Don't get too close to one of these.  They can bite and are very aggressive.  

Irene returned in the evening exactly as planned.  A small crowd had gathered.  News spreads quickly!

Irene removed the towel and quickly placed the four hatchlings on the sand.  It was off to the races. Instinctively the turtles headed for the ocean and traveled at a very quick pace.

Free at last!

John took this video of the race.

In all our excitement it was hard to get good photographs.  Watching them go out into the water and with just a little uncertainty figuring out how to swim and handle the waves was amazing.  This was one of those moments we will always remember.  Life as a fulltimer sure is good! A special thank you goes out to all the turtle volunteers for helping to save these endangered species.