First Sea Turtle Nest in Alabama for the 2020 Season
R. Ken Cooper • May 14, 2020
The day of the first sea turtle nest of 2020 season happened on May 14th
Photo of the May 14th Sea Turtle nesting tracks by Share the Beach Volunteers
On the morning of May 14th the first sea turtle nest of the 2020 season was discovered on West Beach in Gulf Shores by the West Beach Sea Turtle Volunteers of Share the Beach - Alabama's Sea Turtle Conservation Program.
It takes between 55 and 70 days for a sea turtle nest to hatch once it's been laid. The earliest this nest would hatch would be July 8th and the latest it would hatch would be July 23rd.
It's estimated that about 7,500 sea turtles make it to the gulf each year from the Alabama Gulf Coast.
According to NOAA, " Sea turtles are ancient species, having been around since the time of the dinosaurs — about 110 million years."
"All six sea turtle species found in U.S. waters are protected by the Endangered Species Act. They are the green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley."
"All six sea turtle species found in U.S. waters are protected by the Endangered Species Act. They are the green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley."
By far, the most common sea turtle found on Alabama Beach are loggerheads. We normally see a couple of Kemp's Ridley and rarely see Green Sea Turtles.
Also according to NOAA, "It takes 20-30 years for a sea turtle to reach sexual maturity. When a female is ready to lay eggs, she returns to the nesting beach where she was born, even if she has not been there for 30 years! Some females nest every year until the age of 80."
"Loggerheads nest from April to September and generally build 3-5 nests per season, totaling 35 pounds of eggs."
From the Alabama Sea Turtles website:
"During the 2019 nesting season, 114 nests were documented on Alabama beaches. One of the 114 total nests was laid by a green turtle on June 22 on Orange Beach, with the remaining 113 nests those of loggerhead sea turtles.
"During the 2019 nesting season, 114 nests were documented on Alabama beaches. One of the 114 total nests was laid by a green turtle on June 22 on Orange Beach, with the remaining 113 nests those of loggerhead sea turtles.
The 2019 nesting season represents a 36.6% increase in recorded annual nests from 2018, and 51.5% fewer nests than the maximum number of nests recorded in Alabama (n=235 in 2016).
An estimated 7,037 eggs were laid on our beaches in 2019, with an average clutch size of 103.6 eggs per nest. Approximately 3,597 hatchlings successfully made it to the water with an overall hatching success of 51% for nests on Alabama beaches. This hatching success rate includes the impacts of both TS Barry and high levels of predation on the westernmost end of Dauphin Island. Average incubation period was 56 days for this season.
Tropical Storm Barry impacted Alabama beaches on 11-14 July. Collectively, 66 nests (57.9%) were negatively impacted by the storm surge and/or the rise in groundwater associated with this storm system.
We are continuing to work towards mitigating/reducing the negative impacts of artificial lighting on sea turtles. However, in 2019, 17 adult female sea turtles and hatchlings from 7 nests were disoriented due to artificial lighting."
More photos below from the May 14th Sea Turtle nesting on West Beach in Gulf Shores.
Share this article w/ Friends...
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The iconic Flora-Bama has been nominated for USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Beach Bar. This selection, made by a panel of experts, puts the legendary spot in the national spotlight, with the ultimate winner determined by public votes.
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The Foley Art Center will host the 54th Annual Art in the Park in Heritage Park on Mother’s Day Weekend in downtown Foley. The event is held each year at the intersection of Highways 59 and 98. Planners say the festival will feature more than 80 artists. The event is free and open to the public.
Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – It’ll be a busy week in post-season play for at least three Orange Beach Makos spring sports teams. Two teams – baseball and girls' soccer – will play state tournament games, with baseball at home and girls' soccer on the road. The Lady Makos softball powerhouse will be the host team for...
Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – A short meeting agenda for the Gulf Shores Planning Commission is long on requests for 256 new residences in three subdivisions planned in the city. Expansion areas include one for townhomes across State Route 59 from the Baldwin Regional Medical Center’s freestanding emergency department.
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — South Chicago Street in Foley has reopened after several months of closure for improvements. The project added new visual features and pedestrian upgrades along the roadway. City officials said the changes are part of a broader effort to improve access to downtown. The street now includes...
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Orange Beach is getting ready to open a brand-new pickleball complex, and the city is inviting everyone to come celebrate. The Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department announced the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Orange Beach Pickleball Complex.
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores is preparing to host a major collegiate sporting event as top teams from across the country arrive for the national championship. The competition will feature 16 of the nation’s leading beach volleyball teams, with matches held on the city’s public beaches. Officials expect...
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Never fear–your weekly guide to what’s going on and what to do at the beach is here, and you're in for a good one. This lineup of coastal events brings a little bit of everything–from treetop thrills and luxury cruises to community celebrations and sky-high spectacles that truly shine.
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Powerboat teams from across the southern United States will be gathering in Orange Beach for the 7th Annual Orange Beach Powerboat Week. The multi-day event will be held at The Wharf, the central hub for all activities. Organizers say the event draws participants from Texas to the Atlantic
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores City Schools is launching a new adult culinary class series called The Art of Culinary. The series is designed to celebrate food, learning, and community. Organizers said the classes will be hands-on and led by Chef Jon Kastner and other local experts. Each class will focus on a
