Turtle nesting season 2024

Last nest of the season update

Written by: Layne Houk, Biological Science Technician, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Our second nest from False Cape State Park was a Loggerhead nest laid on July 15th and was set to hatch over this past weekend on September 15th. The nest was laid right at the edge of the dune line, so it was not relocated. Since we did not move this nest, we are unsure how many eggs were laid. 

When we went to look for hatchling tracks on the 16th, the high tide had washed over the nest, so we could not see any tracks or depression in the nest. Over the next few days, the tide continuously washed over the nest making it increasingly difficult to detect any activity; this is common for our late season nests. ​

Yesterday, on the 19th, Back Bay NWR biological staff went to do an excavation of the nest, but the cage had been washed away from its original placement and the sand was completely overturned. We dug the entirety of the area, but could not locate the nest. We also could not detect the HOBO temperature sensor that was placed in the nest, leading us to believe that it washed away with the rest of the nest cavity. A couple feet away in the dunes, we found a predated egg, most likely from a ghost grab. 

At this time, we are hopeful that all of the hatchlings made it to the ocean, and the tide either covered their tracks, or they got washed out with it—a shortcut in comparison to their usual long journey down the beach. 

Hatchlings emerge from nest

Written by: Layne Houk, Biological Science Technician, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Update on the first False Cape State Park Nest. This was a Loggerhead sea turtle nest that was laid on June 16th. The majority of hatchlings emerged on Wednesday, August 21st. We went into the nest today to do an excavation. There were 3 tracks at the nest this morning, but unfortunately it does not look like any of them made it to the water—they all led to either crab holes or stopped next to coyote tracks. 

Here are the results from today: 87 hatched eggshells, 6 infertile eggs, 3 predated eggs, 5 live hatchlings, and 1 pipped egg. We counted 97 eggs in this nest at the beginning of the season so are numbers add up. 1 of the predated eggs was a late developed turtle that unfortunately had been mostly eaten. The pipped egg had a late developed turtle that was still alive; however was not fully developed and had its embryonic sac completely out of its body. This turtle was taken directly to the water and was released. The 5 live hatchlings will be taken to be released later tonight on site. The releasing is not open to the public. 

Hatchlings emerge from nest

Written by: Layne Houk, Biological Science Technician, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Thanks to everyone that came out for the nest excavation on August 21, 2024, I hope everyone enjoyed seeing the process and learned a lot from it. 

The results for the Back Bay nest: 112 hatched egg shells, 4 dead hatchlings found in the nest, 2 pipped eggs, 10 infertile eggs, 5 predated eggs, and 2 live hatchlings that will be released on site later tonight. One of the live hatchlings was still coming out of the eggshell when we got there, but fully emerged during the excavation and is doing well. 2 of the infertile eggs showed a pink coloration, which is a sign of a fungal infection inside the eggs. There was one turtle track found at the nest this morning from a turtle that most likely emerged last night. A dead hatchling was also found down the beach in the high tide line. This could have been the turtle that emerged last night, or from over the weekend.. no way to tell. 

Overall, the nest was quite successful with over 105 hatchlings making it to the water. We thank everyone for their efforts in patrolling, nest sitting, and supporting our sea turtle program. 

Hatchlings emerge from nest

Written by: Layne Houk, Biological Science Technician, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

On Friday, August 16^th approximately 101 hatchlings emerged from our first nest on the North Mile between 10:20 PM and 2:10 AM. On Saturday night, 6 more emerged between 9:30 PM and 1:10 AM. Due to storms on Sunday night, our nest sitters had to leave the nest early due to safety concerns, but after checking the nest this morning, it does not look like more have emerged. 

There were 133 eggs laid at this nest and confirmed 106 hatchlings. There could be a few more hatchlings that emerge tonight or tomorrow, but we believe most of them have come out since none have emerged since Saturday night. We will not have any more nest sitters due to weather and the possibility that the other eggs may be infertile. 

We will be going into the nest to do an excavation on Wednesday (the 21st) at 9 AM. If you would like to come see the excavation, please arrive at the nest by 9 AM. You will park at the Visitor Center (4005 Sandpiper Road) and then use the Dune Trail to enter the beach. The nest is located to the left on the North Mile (Coordinates: 36.67586, -75.91412). 

Thank you again to everyone that assisted with our nest!! We are very happy for the hatchlings and wish them the best of luck!

Third Nest of the Season!

Written by: Layne Houk, Biological Science Technician, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

July 15, 2024 at 7:50 AM, we were notified by False Cape State Park staff of a crawl just north of Barbour Hill on False Cape State Park. A female loggerhead climbed up about 21.5 meters on the beach and started to create a body pit at the wrack line. She did not like this spot, so she decided to climb up an additional 2 meters to lay her nest. We confirmed a nest at 9:15 AM. Her second body bit was right at the base of the dune lines, so we did not relocate the nest. We do not have an egg count at this time, but there was a predated egg on the top of the nest. The nest was wired in place and 4 post signs were put up around the nest with both reflective and flagging tape. The expected hatch date is September 8th; however, a temperature sensor was placed in the nest to help predict a more accurate hatch date. There will not be nest sitting at this nest. 

Thank you all for your support this season!

Female loggerhead crawl on the North Mile on Back Bay NWR

Written by: Layne Houk, Biological Science Technician, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

June 20, 2024 at around 5:15AM, Back Bay Staff was notified of a crawl on the North Mile on Back Bay NWR. Staff mobilized and confirmed a nest. A female loggerhead climbed 7.8 meters up the beach, hit the wrack line, and laid her nest. There were some coyote tracks and crab holes all around the nest, as seen in the first image attached. Due to the nest being below that wrack line from the high tide, we relocated the nest closer up to the dunes. She laid 133 eggs. A metal cage was placed over the nest along with 2 sign posts and flagging tape. The expected hatch date is August 14th. Two temperature sensors were placed in the nest, one in the center and one on top, to help predict a more accurate hatch date. There will be an opportunity for nest sitting at this nest. More information about nest sitting and training will be sent out by email mid-end July. 

So excited to have our second nest! Hopefully many more more to come! 🙂

First turtle craw of 2024

 Posted: June 14, 2024 by Back Bay NWR Society

Written by: Layne Houk, Biological Science Technician, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

On Sunday, June 16^th at around 7:55AM, False Crawl State Park staff, notified refuge staff about a crawl just south of the boundary line between False Cape State Park and Back Bay NWR. Back Bay staff mobilized and confirmed a crawl and a body pit. A female loggerhead crawled 9.8 meters up the beach and laid a nest, covered it and then walked back over her body bit and returned to the water.

The nest was laid below the average high tide line, so the nest was relocated closer to the dunes. Ninety seven eggs were found in the nest. The expected hatch date is around August 11th. Two temperature sensors were placed in the new nest, one in the center and one on top of the nest to help predict a more accurate hatch time. A metal cage and 2 sign posts were put at the nest. There will not be nest sitting volunteers at this nest since light and public interactions are not a concern.june-16-2024-turtle_crawl 

So excited to have our first nest. Thank you for all of your support!!

Turtle nesting season 2023

 Posted: October 16, 2023 by Back Bay NWR Society

Written by: Lauren Billodeaux Mowbray, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Sea turtles are hatching, and with each hatch comes a nest excavation!

Yesterday, October 13, 2023, staff at Back Bay national Wildlife Refuge looked at the loggerhead sea turtle nest on the refuge to determine hatch success. Data was collected on the number of hatched eggs and unhatched eggs and whether they were infertile, early or late development, or predated. In this nest, 66 out of 77 eggs hatched: an 86% hatch success rate! From facebook.com/backbaynwrsociety Photos by Lydia Hansen/USFWS

Nests are hatching and turtles are moving….

This morning, September 5, 2023, we excavated in False Cape Nests #1 & #2:

False Cape Nest #1:   This nest was scheduled to hatch on August 22^nd (Day 71) according to the sensor data.  At with high tides coming and being day 73 of incubation we went in on the 24^th to check on the nest.  As we opened we noticed a hard pack crust on the top of the nest 34 cm deep.  Inside were 39 live hatchlings.  There were some infertile eggs removed and the nest was recovered to let the rest of the eggs hatch.  On Tuesday the 29^th we reopened the nest to do a full excavation.  While most of the nest had hatched we put back in the nest 11 lived hatchlings, 2 pipped eggs, and 7 unhatched eggs.    That night high tides washed over the nest.  This morning we did the final nest check.  Most of what we put back in last week ended up drowning in the high tides last week.    The final count of that nest was 118 total clutch, 5 predated eggs, 27 infertile eggs, 3 early development unhatched eggs, 8 late development unhatched eggs, 5 pipped eggs that didn’t emerge, and 70 hatched eggs (9 of those hatchlings died in the nest).    Hatch success of this nest was 59% and emergence success was 52%. 

False Cape Nest #2:  This nest was scheduled to hatch on August 28th.  No activity was noticed until Friday morning on 9/1 (Day 64).  We excavated the nest today to find 30 live hatchlings, 2 viable eggs, 1 predated egg, 3 infertile eggs and a total of 120 hatched egg shells.  We put the 30 live hatchlings and the 2 viable eggs back in the nest to emerge on their own and we will recheck this nest at the end of the week or early next week.  

Fort Story Nest:  This nest seems to have hatched as predicted on Saturday evening/Sunday morning (Day 54).  We will be excavating the nest tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM.  If you have access to the beach you are welcome to come and observe.  

Sandbridge Nest #1:   This nest is predicted to hatch Friday September 8^th (Day 54).  Nest sitting will start for this nest Thursday evening.  If you were at nest sitting training and you did not receive a schedule from me today, please let me know.  We will inform all when we are doing the excavation of this nest.  

As of yesterday, August 23rd, our turtle patrols are done for our 2023 Nesting season.  We finished the year with 10 nests in Virginia Beach (1 on Ft. Story, 1 on the North End, 2 on Dam Neck NB, 2 on Little Island City Park, 1 on Back Bay NWR, and 3 on False Cape State Park).   All of the nests are Loggerheads except for one Green Sea Turtle nest on False Cape. 

So far 3 hatchings have been confirmed and one hatching probable.  Last week one nest on Dam Neck, the North End nest and one False Cape nest hatched.  This Monday was the due date according to the sensor for the second False Cape nest.  We have not seen hatchling tracks to confirm this but the rain may be preventing us from seeing those.  

This weekend the Fort Story nest is predicted to hatch.  We will not have nest sitters at this nest but if any of you happen to be on that beach any mornings this weekend, please text my cell phone (703-919-1728) photos of the nest, especially if you see tracks or holes at the nest.  It did get washed over in the storm but is is high and dry now and we don’t predict that impacted the hatchlings.   I will keep you posted when we confirm a hatching and have an excavation scheduled for those who are able to visit this beach. 

The first Little Island City park nest is at day 47 of incubation and I gathered sensor data today.  When I get that back I will send out a nest sitting schedule for this nest for all my nest sitters.   After it hatches I will also let you all know when the excavation of the nest is.  

Nest week will be doing excavations of our False Cape nests 1&2 and I’ll send out our final information for these nests.   

Thank you so much for your support of our program and our turtles!!  Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!

Lauren Billodeaux Mowbray, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
1324 Sandbridge Road / 4005 Sandpipper Road
Virginia Beach, VA  23456
757/301-7329 x3108 (office)  
703/919-1728 (cell)

Though it feels like summer is wrapping up soon, our turtles are not done nesting yet.  Saturday morning (8/5/23) our patrollers called at 5:55 am informing me of a crawl on Little Island City Park just north of the pier.   Back Bay staff mobilized to meet them, they completed the patrol with no other nests found and returned as we were confirming eggs and determining where to move the nest.  A very small female had emerged that morning, as noted by the tracks in relation to the tide.  She only laid 94 eggs and though she climbed up the shelf and onto the back beach the nest was still too close to the tide to be safe.  We moved the nest up in the dunes and slightly south (directly behind in the dunes was a pile of rotting fish and we didn’t want to contaminate the eggs) 

A sensor was placed in the center of the nest and the nest was caged and flagged.  It is in the dune where we don’t expect disturbance but if any is noticed we will add orange fencing around the nest.  The nest should hatch around October 9th.  We will have nest sitting as this nest as well.  

On Wednesday morning (8/2/23) a female loggerhead crawled up on Back Bay’s North Mile and laid a nest.  At 5:32 our patroller informed me of the crawl and body pit.  Back Bay staff mobilized and confirmed the nest in the body pit.  She did crawl up a shelf to get to the back beach however she still laid next to the high tide line so the nest needed to be moved.  It was a small female and she only laid 77 eggs in the nest.  The nest was moved to the dunes just east of the original location and just up the slope.  A sensor was placed in the middle of the nest and we will be monitoring it to predict hatching time.  Nest is expected to hatch around October 6^th and we will be nest sitting this nest.  

Sunday morning, July 23, 2023, at 6:30 am one of our volunteers was walking on False Cape State Park and reported a crawl south of Wash Woods, south of the previous two nests.  Instantly from the pictures we knew it was a Green Sea turtle.  Back Bay staff arrived to confirm that it was a Green Sea Turtle crawl and we located the eggs.  This female did the hard work of climbing over the ledge and all the way to the base of the dunes to lay her nest so there was no need to move it.  There were coyote tracks and crab holes near the nest but no damage to the eggs was observed.  We added a sensor to the nest, caged and marked it as well as took measurements of the tracks.   Incubation time for Green Sea Turtles is longer than Loggerhead Sea Turtles so we expect to see this nest hatching around October 1st.  

At 5:50 AM on Sunday (7/16/23) our patroller found a crawl at the southern end of Little Island City Park.  Reported it, flagged it, let the City grooming staff know, and then completed the patrol.  Back Bay staff arrived around 7 AM.  We confirmed it was a Loggerhead Sea Turtle and that there was a nest in the crawl.  The nest was located in a bowl just above the current high tide line and below the predicted average high tide line.  Due to this it was moved to the dunes just south of the crawl location still on Little Island City Park.   There were 111 eggs in the nest and they were reburied with a sensor in place, caged and marked.  Expected hatch date is around September 14th.  We will be doing nest sitting for this nest.  Information about that training will be coming out shortly. 

Last night July 12, 2023 we had at least one busy sea turtle.  We two false crawls last night, one on the North Mile of Back Bay NWR and one on Sandbridge Beach just south of Tuna Lane Beach entrance.  We can’t confirm this was the same turtle but is it very probable.  Crawls were reported at 5:22 AM and 5:56 AM this morning.  Both were short crawls up and then back into the water.  Our hypothesis is that in both cases she was spooked before she was able to find a place to nest.  Neither crawl had an attempted body pit.   A visitor on Sandbridge Beach reported seeing a large turtle just of the beach in the water last night around 5 pm.   Very likely our female.  All the neighboring properties have been given a heads up and if she didn’t find a place to nest in North Carolina last night, maybe we will see a nest tomorrow morning.  

Yesterday morning (7/11/23) at 6:40 AM a crawl was reported on the public beach of Joint Expeditionary Base-Fort Story.  Back Bay Biology team responded with Fort Story Natural Resources Division to confirm the crawl and the existence of a nest.  The crawl was identified as a Loggerhead Sea Turtle and eggs were found in the nest cavity.  Though the nest appears close to the tide line the beach has a good elevation change and the nest was above any notable wrack line so we decided to leave it in place.  We put a temperature sensor in the nest and covered the eggs.  The team then installed a cage, posts and orange fencing around the nest since dogs are allowed on this beach.  At 45 days of incubation the orange fencing will be pulled and the temperature sensor will be read to determine hatch times.  Due to the night closure on this beach and the restricted access we will not be using nest sitters at this nest.  

Late last night, June 28, 2023 False Cape Staff reported a crawl at 10:45PM just North of the Barbour Hill beach ramp on False Cape State Park.  This morning Back Bay Staff arrived ready for a nest.  We arrived to find a messy crawl that was covered with coyote tracts.  After a lot of digging to be sure we determined that the female started digging a nest but then was disturbed by coyotes so she headed straight back to the water for safety.  We still documented the false crawl and took measurements. 

We continued down the beach towards the NC State Line to find a second Loggerhead crawl south of the Wash Woods beach ramp, south of the first nest.  We believe this was the same female.  This crawl did have eggs in it.  She laid just above the high tide line from last night but below the average high tide so we decided to move the nest to the upslope of the dunes just west of the original location.  There were 131 eggs in the nest.  Measurements of crawl were taken and a temperature sensor was put in the nest.  We expect the nest to hatch around August 28th.  We will not have nest sitters at this nest but we will of course keep you all informed on the status of the nest.  

On June 11, 2023 False Cape Staff reported a crawl at 10:45PM just North of the Barbour Hill beach ramp on False Cape State Park.  This morning Back Bay Staff arrived ready for a nest.  We arrived to find a messy crawl that was covered with coyote tracts.  After a lot of digging to be sure we determined that the female started digging a nest but then was disturbed by coyotes so she headed straight back to the water for safety.  We still documented the false crawl and took measurements. 

We continued down the beach towards the NC State Line to find a second Loggerhead crawl south of the Wash Woods beach ramp, south of the first nest.  We believe this was the same female.  This crawl did have eggs in it.  She laid just above the high tide line from last night but below the average high tide so we decided to move the nest to the upslope of the dunes just west of the original location.  There were 131 eggs in the nest.  Measurements of crawl were taken and a temperature sensor was put in the nest.  We expect the nest to hatch around August 28th.  We will not have nest sitters at this nest but we will of course keep you all informed on the status of the nest.