My family had a reunion at my Uncle's house on Hatteras Island. We took a day break walk and found both a live science lesson and a lesson in hope.
It started with a day break walk along the beach.
We found tracks that looked like a four wheeler had driven up out of the ocean and then back out again.
More tracks
At the top of the loops of tracks, above the high tide line, we found a nest.
Until we could get the Rangers, we roped it off ourselves. It's not uncommon for four wheelers to come along this patch of beach.
Here they come to save the day!
My 8 yo is the official reporter!
Setting out a work area.
The Rangers getting set up to do their thing. Here they are making a depth sounding. The eggs were about 10" down. They will hatch in about 55 days.
From the tracks, the Ranger can tell us they were made by a 400 lb loggerhead.
Here he is getting ready to excavate the nest, to obtain one egg for a DNA sample. There are approximately 115 eggs in each nest.
Eggs! There are approximately 115 eggs in each nest. A turtle will clutch 3 or 4 times during the season. Turtle nesting is up quite a bit in the last two years. Ours was No. 64.
Closer.
And yet closer. Note the size of the little shell sitting next to it, because you can compare it in the next picture.
Getting the DNA sample ready. They use the shell, not the egg. We were all kind of surprised but of 115 eggs, only 70% actually make it anyway, so one for science probably isn't so bad.
The albumin was so clear!
Here is the shell, off to UNC.
Bella the Cavalier thinks omelettes sound like a great idea! (No, we didn't let her.)
My child, helping to rebury the eggs. She was so excited, helping save the baby turtles. She asked me if this Mommy has escaped the Gulf. The Ranger told her loggerheads were common around Hatteras before the oil disaster. Now she wants to go save turtle nests in Louisiana.
The start of the fencing off. It was at this point I died from lack of coffee. That beautiful woman is my Aunt Elayne, a woman who has taught me to love animals from the very start of my life, and is helping me pass it on to my children.