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...
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley Main Street held its biannual "Idea Exchange" meeting, drawing elected officials, board members, volunteers, and local entrepreneurs to downtown Foley, Alabama. Led by Executive Director Wes Abrams, the event celebrated new funding, new technology tools, and a wave of new businesses. The gat
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — City governments across South Baldwin County have announced holiday schedules for the Independence Day weekend. Residents in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Foley will experience temporary changes to office hours and select city services. Emergency operations will continue as applicable.
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Orange Beach City Council held a special-called meeting Monday to consider pursuing the purchase of a local RV park property. The council heard a financial presentation from City Administrator Ford Hanley before voting on a resolution. A motion to authorize an independent appraisal ult
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — High surf and dangerous rip currents have made this an unusually active season for beach rescue teams along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Lifeguards in Orange Beach have already responded to numerous water rescues as summer gets underway. Heavy crowds at the beaches have encountered hazardous wa
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — A woman from Oklahoma died after falling from a moving vehicle in Gulf Shores, and police are continuing to investigate. Officers said the woman was a passenger when the incident occurred. Emergency responders found her with life-threatening injuries shortly after. Investigators are now ask
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The first week of July has officially arrived, and if there were ever a time to fall in love with the Alabama lineup, it is bursting at the seams with hometown charm, unforgettable adventures, delicious bites, and enough patriotic spirit to paint the shoreline red, white, and blue—whether
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The new Gulf Shores High School is open and already welcoming visitors, even as crews continue moving furniture into the building. School officials said the campus is not yet finished, but significant progress has been made. The facility has already hosted major educational conferences desp
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The unanimous Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the convictions of a Gulf Shores business owner who had been found guilty of operating a golf cart rental business without a business license. The court ruled that the City of Gulf Shores failed to prove its case under the ordinance i
Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – In a special-called meeting, the Orange Beach City Council will consider hiring a real estate appraisal firm to assess a much-discussed 24-acre parcel near City Hall. Beech’s Campground and RV Park has occupied the parcel for years, and developers recently looked into buying it for a pirate
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Gulf Shores is preparing for a month of activities following the City Council's official proclamation of July as National Park and Recreation Month. City leaders said parks and recreation programs play an important role in health, fitness, and community life. The annual observan
