During this turtle nesting season, we are introducing "Turtle Talk Tuesday". Every Tuesday, we will provide you with facts about our local turtle population and what is being done to protect them.
So, do you know who keeps on eye on these turtle nests and tracks the number of eggs laid each year? It's the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch (AISTW), a local, non-profit organization that leads local efforts to preserve and protect endangered sea turtles on Amelia Island. The AISTW has been active for 36 years and can be directly credited for the increase of sea turtle nests on Amelia Island during this time. The AISTW consists of hard-working volunteers who patrol the beach every morning at civil twilight (about 20 min before sunrise) to look for signs that a sea turtle has come ashore and/or laid eggs.
When a crawl has been noted, the AISTW locates the nest and ropes it off for protection. They return to the nest daily to check it and ensure that the nest is still okay. After the incubation period ends in about 50-60 days, they watch to see that the eggs have hatched and within a few days, they return to the nest to excavate it. Their efforts also include genetic testing (to be further explained on a later date), counting egg shards (both hatched and unhatched), and releasing any hatchling that did not emerge from the nest to the water. All their activities are documented for record keeping and/or historical purposes.
To learn more about the AISTW and to see historical data related to sea turtle nests on Amelia Island, please visit their webpage at www.ameliaislandseaturtlewatch.com.
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer