It is just the beginning of the New Year and nowwhere near time for adult female turtles to be coming ashore to lay their eggs, but that doesn’t always guarantee a “down time” for the OIBSTPO. We had been reading in the papers and seeing email from the State that many “cold stunned” turtles have begun to wash on shore in the Northern part of North Carolina. The last time there was a large cold stunning event was 2011 and the OIBSTPO was called on to help out at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center. In early January, Jim and Deb began to pool the OIBSTPO Volunteers to see if anyone would be available to help out, if a call for help would come. Several people indicated their eagerness to help – so we waited for the call. That call came from Jean Beasley on January 21. Jean was delighted that we were ready and would make our first trip to Topsail on Friday, January 25.

January 25, four of us took off for Topsail Beach, NC at 7:00 a.m. We worked with 15 of the turtles: feeding, cleaning out their tanks, giving them baths and returning them to a nice clean tank. This is done 1 turtle at a time! As the turtles get healthier and pass the “critical” stage, Jean will give each turtle a name. She does this with every turtle in her care. By 2 p.m., we had finished taking care of all 15 turtles, put a load of towels in the wash and began our trip back to OIB. We were all tired, a “bit” stinky, and with a wonderful feeling of satisfaction in knowing that we are contributing to the healthy return of these beautiful creatures. We are ready for next Friday and every Friday after that until they are healthy enough to be returned to their ocean home. February 1, week 2, We arrived and ready for duty and to our surprise, there were an additional 11 turtles, bringing our total patient list to 26. Whew!! We were introduced to a new volunteer (Patrick) that had offered to help out on his day off, which is Friday, so we have made him an honorary OIBSTPO Crew Member! He is from Surf City but he fits in with this crew just fine. A few of the turtles are not doing well and having difficulty eating; especially Snickers. She has pneumonia and difficulty breathing but we all pray that they will all pull through. We all know our tasks so we got started knowing this was going to take awhile longer with the eleven additional turtles. We are all finished and ready to head back to OIB about 3:30 – tired but happy! February 8, week 3, What a privilege it is for the OIBSTPO crew to help out. Upon arriving yesterday morning, we were met with sad news…..Snickers had passed away; the pneumonia was too much for this frail little one. Good news though was that all but 3 of the remaining 25 turtles were eating on their own – YEAH! The greatest news of the day was that Merigo, a loggerhead, finally pooped!!!!! The first time since arriving at the hospital. A huge cheer went up by all of us as this was indeed progress for her!!!! We’ll rest up and be ready to head back next Friday.

Week 4 at the Turtle Hospital is now under our belts. We are beginning to see the turtles starting their journey to being healthy again. All but 3 are eating on their own and their appetites are increasing! Jennifer is still prodding the remaining 3. We were very surprised and VERY honored when Jean gave us exciting news – one of the turtles (D-2) was given the name “BOYCE” on Friday….WOW. Jim & Deb have decided to “adopt” the entire Friday Crew because “BOYCE” is “our” turtle; not just Jim & Deb’s. She is a Green Sea Turtle and beautiful. (Of course!!) Hopefully we can get a picture of her next week and post.

A very short meeting was held before dinner to bring the volunteers up-to-date on the 2012 events and results.  Finances indicate that the OIPBSTPO is solvent going into 2013.

Discussed the positive monetary donation results of participating in the 2012 Sea Turtle Festival, Oyster Festival and Spooky Night at the Museum.  Belk Charity Day contributions were down from previous years.   The opportunity to discuss the plight of the Sea Turtles with adults and children is overwhelming and makes our effort at these events a total and complete success.

A new Sea Turtle video is in the process of being produced and will be ready for the 2013 season.  This video, using OIBSTPO volunteers, is being made by an audio/video student, Kelly Strawinski, from UNCW.  We are very pleased with the results so far.  The video is being filmed on Ocean Isle Beach and will be dedicated to the OIBSTPO volunteers, the Town of Ocean Isle Beach, the Ocean Isle Property Owners Assoc., and all of our sponsors and donors.

The 2012 final nesting activities on OIB are:
24 nests laid
2,849 eggs laid
2,165 emerged hatchlings
75.99% – hatching success rate
52.5 days – average incubation
118.7 eggs – average egg clutch count per nest|
These numbers are typical for an average year on Ocean Isle Beach.

Once again, thanks for all the support given to our sea turtles during the past year.  We look forward to seeing our returning friends and making new friends ths coming summer.

Regards,

Deb & Jim Boyce
OIBSTPO – Island Coordinators

We had the pleasure of visiting with “Scuter” and “Durham” two turtles that OIBSTPO rescued in 2011.  Both are doing quite well and hopefully will be among those to be released sometime in early Summer.

Wanted to share this experience with everyone!

Deb Boyce

The drawing for the “Precious Sea Turtles” painting donated by Rick Clausi, Bear Art Studio, Calabash, NC took place at Victoria’s Ragpatch today at noon.  A suprised shopper was asked to draw the winning ticket and………..the winner is Lynn Wiedman of Sunset Beach, NC.   Lynn was not present for the drawing but was contacted via phone later in the afternoon.   Our thanks to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket.  We also want to extend our thanks and appreciation to Patty and Vicki, Victoria’s Ragpatch, for their ongoing support of the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization.      Deb and Jim Boyce, Island Coordinators, OIBSTPO

Tracks in the Sand

The Rising sun cast shades of pink on the sand and the white foam of the ocean as the four of us walk along the edge of the water.  Shells float onto the wet sand and quickly are pulled back into the retreating waves.  The chilly temperature overnightwas rising as the sun warmed the air and sand.

Our destination was the one of two remaining loggerhead turtle nests on Ocean Isle Beach, NC that had not hatched.  We chatted and walked on an
angle away from the water through the softer sand towards the yellow and orange pennants hanging from the ropes marking the outline of the turtle nest.  The nest was located in front of a beach house at the edge of the dunes and sea grass.

As we approached the area appeared quiet and still until Barb noticed movement in front of the nest.  We all immediately stopped walking and began to look around.  Near our feet we saw turtle tracks in the sand leading toward the ocean, tracks toward the dunes, tracks parallel to the water, and track patterns away from the nest.  As we looked closer we saw baby turtles near the nest.  Some were crawling into the dune grass behind and alongside the nest. A few were in the path made by the turtle volunteers.  Some turtles lay upside down on their backs.  Their flippers moved in an attempt to turn them upright.  Several turtles were still.  The babies hatched in the morning when the sun warmed their sand home.  Now they were in disarray and in distress.

Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization is a division of the Ocean Isle Museum Foundation and operates under the management of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.  The OIB group is under the
direction of Deb and Jim Boyce.  They function with about fifty trained volunteers who monitor the nests from May to October.  This nest, the Naber nest, is located at 158 East First Street on the Ocean Isle Beach.

The Boyce’s phone number was on the poster at the nest site.  I called their number and reached Deb Boyce.  I explained what Barb, Yulia, Skip and I found at the nest.  She asked us to watch the turtles while she notified the nest parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tempsick.  In the meantime we were not to touch or move any of the babies.  Jim Boyce arrived first.  He gave each of us a plastic glove to wear and showed us how to pick up and revive the babies.  It is against the North Carolina wildlife law to interfere unless trained or asked to help by a volunteer.  Jim gave Yulia a turtle to put in her gloved hand.  He demonstrated how to gently blow her breath on the upturned body in hopes of warming and saving its life.

The upside down turtles we saw around the nest were instinctively on their backs to catch the warmth of the sun’s rays.  If too cold, newly hatched babies will not survive.  When cold it will stop moving and appear comatose.  Yulia, Barb and I each attempted to revive turtles in this way.  Many began to move with this warming attention.

We all followed turtle tracks in the sand to find the hardy ones moving away from the nest.  Each tiny creature was gently picked up by a gloved hand and put in an open cooler.  They were given an assist to the ocean because in the daytime there were many predators waiting for a meal.

Jim and Yulia continued to work on reviving four loggerheads.  After
many minutes one began to move and joined its nest mates in the cooler.  The other three remained still.  Jim made the decision to dig a shallow hole in the sand and placed the three lifeless bodies about five inches under the sand.

At this time, we all followed the turtle parents to the water’s edge.  Tipping the cooler gently on its side allowed twenty-five baby loggerhead hatchlings to scramble onto the sand.  With the waves coming and going near them, the small two to three inch heart-shaped bodies with flippers flapping headed
into the shallow water.  The force of the foamy waves tossed many back onto the sand.  Some landed upright and began again to move into the next wave.
Others, upside down struggled to right themselves.  It took three or four tries
for most to gain momentum and breach the incoming tide.  As they did, they swam quickly into deeper water.  They would instinctively swim about thirty miles to the safety of the floating Sargasso seaweed to feed and remain until larger.

We breathed a sigh of relief and wonder to have helped the volunteers and assist 25 turtles to safety.  We exchanged names and addresses with Alex, the nest parent mother.  I had taken many pictures and agreed to share them with her.  They were very thankful that we found the active nest site and stayed to help.  We promised to return in the evening when the rest of the 45-55 eggs might hatch.

We ate an early and quick dinner, with Alexa, our almost three year old great granddaughter; we walked back to the nest about seven P.M.  Alex and her husband were there.  The nest was unchanged from the morning.  The center
had not dropped an indication of no activity below the sand.  All was quiet.  We talked among ourselves and predicted when and how many might hatch after dark.  A few other beach walkers arrived and Alex told them the story of how “Donna and her family” found hatched turtles roving in the morning.

Yulia walked over to the area where Jim had buried the three babies in the morning.  Looking down at the sandy area in front of the site, she noticed two new turtle tracks.  Amazed, she followed them back to the burial site.  She told Alex.  We all marveled that maybe two turtles had revived in the warm sand and found their way up and out.  Yulia, Alex, Jim, and others carefully walked
along the tracks looking for loggerheads as dusk turned darker.  Around a small dune midway between the nest and the water Yulia found the first baby.
The second live turtle was spotted trudging its way a few feet beyond determined to reach the sea.  Each was picked up and placed in the wet sand closer to the water.   Alexa stood with us and watched the two flip and flap across the sand.  Alex kindly named one turtle “Alexa” in honor of the toddler who was enthralled by the event.  Alexa watched with rapt attention as her
namesake with the heart-shaped body and big black eyes slowly entered the
water.  Both turtles were caught in a wave, floated back to the shore and started over again.  After several attempts each loggerhead caught a wave and swam past the incoming current out of sight.

Maybe they heard the cheers of “Go Alexa” and clapping in celebration as Alexa and spectators expressed joy and wonder in the shared experience of helping two loggerhead turtle hatchlings not expected to be alive.  In years to come, maybe a female from this nest will return to lay her eggs and Alexa will be able to bring future generations to experience the mystery of nature.

Donna M. Ferguson
October 15, 2011

Note:  photos in this article were taken by Donna M. Ferguson

OCEAN ISLE BEACH SEA TURTLE PROTECTION ORGANIZATION, along
with HOLDEN BEACH SEA TURTLE PATROL are proud to be highlighted in the latest advertising campaign by the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority.

Click on one of the following links to catch a glimpse of why so many folks love to give so much of their time to helping sea turtles and educating the public about their plight.

http://www.visitnc.com/journeys/multimedia/brunswick-islands-area
See sidebar on right of page)

or   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1A28jiLFz8

2011 NESTING SEASON IN REVIEW

2011 was a mixed year regarding the 23 nests on Ocean Isle Beach.

We had a nest laid on July 12, 2011 (unnamed) that was very unusual due to the fact that there were only three (3) very deformed eggs laid. As you can see, the eggs barely resembled a sea turtle egg. These specimens were sent to the State Turtle Biologist (Matthew Godfrey) for evaluation. Could it have been a fertilization problem, as the oceans seem to have become the worlds’ largest dumping ground (in my opinion)?

We also encountered nests that produced a large number of infertile eggs. One nest in particular had only 49 eggs, of which 44 were infertile.

Five (5) nests had less than 100 eggs. Two (2) of these nests produced a total of 123 eggs, of which 82 were infertile or a 30.1% successful hatch rate. In all cases, except for the nest with only the three (3) deformed eggs, at least five (5) healthy hatchlings emerged and reached their ocean home. This seems to tell us that all the mothers that nested on Ocean Isle Beach in 2011 were healthy enough to produce viable eggs that produced hatchlings.

In summary, here are the final results of nesting results for 2011:

• § 2,491 Eggs laid
• § 1,933 Hatchlings to the water
• § 33 Egg count shortage
• § 22 DNA eggs (1 egg from each nest was sent for DNA testing.)
• § 503 Infertile and dead
• § 112 Average eggs per nest

• § 77.6% success rate of hatchlings to the water
• § 51.4 Average incubation days

• § The average success rate of the 14 most productive nests was 92.04%
• § The average success rate of the least most productive nests was 41.5%
• § The most successful was Nest #14 – Atlantic Coast Safety – 96.3%
• § The least productive was Nest #4 – Mary Elizabeth – 9.75%
• § The lowest egg count was Nest #19 – Tiki the Turtle – 49 eggs
• § The highest egg count was Nest #3 – Lemon Drops – 177 eggs.

We can only hope that the upcoming years see an improvement in these figures. If 2/3 of our nests can produce an average successful hatch rate of 92.04%, why does the remaining 1/3 of the nests only produce a success rate of 41.5%? Let’s hope the world’s biologists and scientists can find an answer to these and other questions that appear to hinder the population growth of sea turtles.

We can only hope that through the efforts of everyone involved in the effort to protect all endangered wildlife, we can win this war. As Jerry Reid sings in an old song, “we have a long way to go and a short time to get there”.

Deb and I wish to thank all the volunteers of the OIBSTPO as well as the Town of Ocean Isle Beach, the Ocean Isle Property Owner’s Association and all the visitors for the wonderful support each and every one of you gives to our organization. This support allows us to continue to protect sea turtles and to educate the public.

Someone asked me this year why we (our organization) spends so many summer hours protecting sea turtles? My answer to them was rather plain and simple “we do this because of us”. There are probably many different answers to this question and they are all probably correct…..just food for thought in 2012.

To a better future………..

Jim

Tickets are $5.00 each

Painting is on display and raffle tickets available for purchase at:
Victoria’s Ragpatch, 117 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

All proceeds will go to the management and education of the public to the plight of sea turtles, and help to provide a safe and protected environment for all endangered sea turtles that frequent the island of Ocean Isle Beach.

Drawing will be held on Saturday, November 19, @ noon
Victoria’s Ragpatch
117 Causeway Drive
Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Thank you for your support!

In the quiet, early morning hours this past Wednesday, our volunteer ATV rider came upon a female loggerhead just finishing throwing sand over her newly laid nest and heading back to the open ocean! Typically our riders only get to find the “crawls” but this time the rider was able to stop and not only enjoy the sight but take some wonderful photos of the latest nest laid on our beach. Before the rider continued on his way, he staked off the nesting area for the relocation team to come in and evaluate the safety of the nest location.

A relocation team searched for the chamber with the clutch of eggs and the relocation of the nest began to move the nest further back to the safety of the dunes as several other volunteers assisted and answered questions from beach visitors.

“The Von Wormer Babies” nest sign

"The Von Wormer Babies" First nest of 2011

The anticipation is finally over!  Our first nest of the 2011 season “the Von Wormer Babies” was discovered Monday morning by our ATV rider.  The “mama”, a loggerhead, identified by her crawl, dug a huge body pit within 3 feet of the escarpment in front of house number 121 W. First Street.  While volunteers Nancy Parker and Jim Boyce diligently worked to locate the eggs, trainees Anne Neely and Gail Ehrhardt observed the process and explained to visitors as they walked up exactly what was happening.  Zane Colfield, also a new volunteer, was busy snapping pics.  The nest was successfully relocated directly back into the dunes, marked off for protection and now the wait begins for the first hatchlings to emerge!

Nancy getting eggs ready to relocate

Eggs in nest prior to being relocated

Gail watching how it's done.

This nest will be used as a training nest for potential “nest parents” who will be keeping watch over nests during the 2011 season.   Anyone interested should email oibcturtleorg@atmc.net for information.