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...
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores Elementary School is partnering with Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores for a Spirit Night fundraiser. The event will bring families together for a fun evening of food, entertainment, and school pride. A portion of restaurant sales from in-person and online orders will benefit Gulf Shores
Elberta, Ala. — (OBA) — The Elberta German Sausage Festival is getting new management. The Town of Elberta and its municipal volunteer fire department will take responsibility for organizing the longtime community event. Elberta Community Partners will step aside as the event's organizer. The nonprofit says it will co
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Night-owl beachgoers along Alabama's Gulf Coast can enjoy a special treat this week! A near-total lunar eclipse will take place Thursday night, and watching it over the Gulf makes it even better. You don't need any special glasses, so it's one of the easiest celestial events to relax and e
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach Parks and Recreation is offering residents a chance to learn more about the birds that live along the Gulf Coast. The city's Adult Learning Lab is hosting a class, Coastal Wings & Waves, designed to make bird identification fun and easy. The class is open to adults and will be
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach Parks & Recreation is challenging residents and visitors to get moving this fall with a fun, fitness-focused program. The department is launching Fall Fitness Bingo, a monthlong activity challenge designed to encourage people of all fitness levels to stay active. The program i
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Orange Beach Community Center is kicking off its 2026 season with a Labor Day potluck dinner. Annual membership dues of $10 per person will be collected at the event. The evening will feature BBQ from Moe's, served with all the fixings. No guest speaker is planned, and the night is int
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The calendar may be creeping towards September, but the Alabama Gulf Coast summer is still swinging for one more big hit. This week offers a wonderfully random–and very Gulf Coast–mix of activities to see, do, learn, hear, and eat. Test your trivia skills under the stars and twinkle lights
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores City Leaders are considering key infrastructure and workforce investments, including the adoption of the city’s 2027 Transportation Plan and a one-time lump-sum bonus for eligible municipal retirees.
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Mystics of Pleasure Mardi Gras Krewe is gearing up for a fun night in Orange Beach. The Krewe will host its 26th Annual Drawdown fundraiser at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. The event promises an evening packed with food, live music, dancing, and a chance to win $10,000. T
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach is closely examining how stormwater moves through one of its neighborhoods. Thompson Engineering presented a drainage basin study and a stormwater master plan for the Bear Point area to the City Council. The study aims to help the city better understand and manage its drainage
