Nest 16 for IOP & Nest 5 for SI

Nest 16: Once again Gina and Doug McQuilken and their grand dog Luna found a nest at the north end of the Isle of Palms. This one was laid just northeast of 61 Ocean Point Drive in Wild Dunes. While the average clutch size for loggerheads is around 120 eggs, this one contained only 48 eggs, less than half what is expected. Nest 16 was relocated to a spot near the 30th Avenue Access Path.

Nest 5: Laure and Bob Snyder discovered tracks on the beach on Sullivan's at the Access Path between Station 17 and 18 Streets where the Sand Dunes Club historic building is located. It was a beautiful nest with all the classic field signs where we easily found 130 eggs. Ghost crabs had already dug into the body pit created by the turtle, but they were not able to find the eggs. This spot is well below the spring tide line at the maritime forest where dead trees line the flat beach after having been killed by the flooding salt water. Bob helped us by carrying the bucket of eggs a block and a half to Station 19 where there is a good dune for relocation.