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Jack Hoying | profile | all galleries >> Flowers, Birds, Insects and Wildlife >> Animals >> Loggerhead Turtles at Edisto Island, South Carolina 06-2012 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Loggerhead Turtles at Edisto Island, South Carolina 06-2012

Loggerhead turtles begin their lives scrambling down a beach to the ocean where they will hope to be one of the lucky 1 out of 1000 that makes it to adulthood. They spend their entire lives at sea, and only the females will return to the beach to lay eggs after almost 30 years of swimming. They lay between 80 to 120 eggs in a nest, and may nest more than once a season.
Loggerhead nesting tracks from the previous night on Otter Island
Loggerhead nesting tracks from the previous night on Otter Island		 Racoons raided this nest of at least 40 eggs
Racoons raided this nest of at least 40 eggs		 Loggerhead dug in to keep a low profile while leaying eggs
Loggerhead dug in to keep a low profile while leaying eggs		 Saltwater tears
Saltwater tears
Loggerhead 1 returning to the Atlantic Ocean
Loggerhead 1 returning to the Atlantic Ocean		 Loggerhead 2 laying eggs on Edisto Island State Park Beach
Loggerhead 2 laying eggs on Edisto Island State Park Beach		 Loggerhead 2 returning to the sea
Loggerhead 2 returning to the sea		 Loggerhead sea turtle at the surf
Loggerhead sea turtle at the surf
Rambling Loggerhead tracks
Rambling Loggerhead tracks		 Rambling Loggerhead tracks
Rambling Loggerhead tracks		 Sea Turtle Volunteers probing for the nest
Sea Turtle Volunteers probing for the nest		 Sea Turtle Patrol
Sea Turtle Patrol
Relocating the nest to get it above high tide
Relocating the nest to get it above high tide		 A few of the 108 eggs in this nest
A few of the 108 eggs in this nest		 Loggerhead Turtle Eggs
Loggerhead Turtle Eggs		 The 108 eggs from this single nest nearly filled a 5 gallon bucket
The 108 eggs from this single nest nearly filled a 5 gallon bucket
Digging a new nest for the eggs (an existing nest is marked on the left)
Digging a new nest for the eggs (an existing nest is marked on the left)		 Baby Loggerhead (after being buried for 50 days or so) Photo taken in 2005
Baby Loggerhead (after being buried for 50 days or so) Photo taken in 2005

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Paul Milholland04-Jul-2012 03:58
Nice job documenting the nesting activity, and a good reminder that it never hurts to have the flash gels in the bag.
Jeanne Newman03-Jul-2012 20:42
Wow! Beautifully and clearly documented, Jack. What a grand find! v.
Ed Duverger03-Jul-2012 20:18
That's a very interesting report,Jack.
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