June 1 of 2016 brings good news. Loggerhead sea turtle nest #2 has been found in Nags Head by Barry of the KH/KDH and part of Nags Head ATV route team.
Nest responders confer with Barry the ATV driver
Loggerhead sea turtle crawl tracks
The Loggerhead nest pit
Barry found the nest during his early morning run and soon thereafter the sea turtle response team was hearing the phone ring with melodious sounds of NC Wildlife Resource Commission Karen Clark (KC) advising all to call Charlotte of the N.E.S.T. hotline should they be able to respond.
A nest response crew soon assembled and the search for the exact location of the nest proceeded.
Searching for the DNA nest egg
The DNA egg was found by recently trained youth nester Mikayla and handed to Biologist Karen Clark for egg shell transit to Raleigh to determine if mama loggerhead has laid multiple nests and if so where.
Mikayla hands DNA egg to NCWRC Biologist Karen Clark
All seasoned and newly trained responding N.E.S.T. members had a chance to participate at the nest. Measurements were taken and the necessary data was recorded on the nest response sheet. Nest marking stakes were put into place, the response team picture was taken (minus some folks that had other commitments) and all left with smiling faces for all to return in approx. 60 days to see all the little loggerhead turtles begin their life’s journey.
sea turtle Nest #2 response team holding up two fingers indicating nest #2