Leatherback Nest emergence in Flagler Beach

We have another Leatherback emergence!!!!!!!!!!! B2 emerged Friday!!! WHOO HOOO!!!!! What an awesome emergence it was too!!! The nest was laid on May 29th , Theresa Donatelli and I were the lucky ones to be on patrol that day, and it hatched in 62 days and again Theresa and I were on patrol then too!! Amazing.It is located in Beverly Beach at the walkover with the white stakes on the road!! One baby came out Tuesday and the rest waited till Friday!! The cleaning will be Monday, not sure of the time yet. It is adopted by one of our own!! Pat Smith!! Way to go Pat!! Now we must talk to the Turtle Gods about the Leatherback nest in FB. FB 6, Next to emerge!!! Ramona or I will send out an email about what time the cleaning will be on monday!!! What ever you do, do not let the loggerheads and greens know how excited we are about these LB nests!! They are just as wonderful!!!
Thanks, Lori


The adopter of the nest is Pat Smith, who has been very involved with the teacher's nest adoption program, sponsored by Jane Culpepper. (Thank you, Jane!) Pat has done a great job organizing the paperwork and communicating with teachers, Jane, Beth, and myself. Beth and I decided to award Pat with a very special nest because she has worked so very hard. Thank you, Pat!

Well............... the nest emerged and wouldn't you know it, Pat is out of town for a few days! Pat has asked that Mary Narin, a very interested and enthusiastic teacher represent her at the nest evaluation. Mary has agreed to document the evaluation for Pat.

The nest evaluation will take place Monday evening at 6:30. The nest is located directly across from the pink dome which is north of the Flagler Beach/ Beverly Beach City limit. Hope to see you there!

Leatherback Nest FB1 Excavation

Hello Turtle Lovers,
Here are pictures from the cleaning of FB1, our first wonderfully successful Leatherback nest for Flagler Beach in a long time. The debut of 4 live and healthy Leatherback hatchlings was more then I expected and hoped for. But there they were and it was the best. There was a total of 80 eggs in the clutch and there were 52 that hatched. 52 Flagler Beach Leatherbacks headed out to the big wide ocean. How Cool!!
Thank you everyone that came to help.Ramona, thanks for being the great photographer and taking all these wonderful pictures for me. Thank you to Dan, Theresa, Teresa, Thom, Catherine, Barb, Kelly, and Mark for digging to the depths while I deserted you to show off the babies. What a great team we have on our patrol. A big Thanks to everyone that came to help, watch, and be there for this. If you weren't able to make it and are getting these pictures, I am sorry you didn't get to be here but I hope you will enjoy the pictures.
Big Turtle Hugs to all of you guys!!!! Lori

Leatherback rescue on Mantanzas South beach

Monday morning the Turtle Patrol walking Summerhaven found Leatherback tracks coming up the beach, over the dunes, across old A1A and into the marsh. They could not find the outgoing tracks!!! So looking all around they finally spotted her in the little river between Old A1A and A1A. She was stranded in the flooded area and was heading towards A1A and the ICW. They stopped her from going across the highway and then we all got there and headed her back over the dunes and back to the ocean. The thought of her being in our skinny ICW with so many miles from an inlet and all that Memorial Day boat traffic was too much for us to not guide her back to the ocean. .She was just awesome. We named her Summer and wished her luck on her journey. Unfortunately, it was such a hectic time and we were all in the water up to our waists and necks,just thinking about her safety that we did not get a PIT scan done. She was not huge as leatherbacks go, maybe 700 lbs or so, but she was GREAT!! Took alot of convincing and pushing to get her to go to the ocean and not A1A. Her breathing will live in my heart forever! Great big sighs and great breaths. She was amazing!!That night we did have a new Leatherback nest about 10 miles south of where she was. We are calling it Summers nest !!It was just a most awesome rescue. I am thanking Turtle Mother and the Turtle Gods for letting us help her back and to safety!! Hope you enjoy the pictures!!
Lori