10/1/24 @ 9:15 a.m. - For this Turtle Talk Tuesday, we wanted to share some information from the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch regarding the process of a nesting sea turtle. In this case, we are looking at a leatherback turtle. After digging a hole with her rear flippers and once she's sensed that the hole is deep enough, she will begin laying her eggs. She covers the chamber (hole) with her rear flippers, as if she is protecting the eggs from view by observers.
Once the egg laying process is complete, the leatherback turtle will begin to drag the sand she took out to build the chamber and use it to cover the eggs. She will carefully pack the sand tightly over the eggs, creating a sealed chamber with just enough oxygen for the eggs to develop into healthy hatchlings.
The final nesting behavior before returning to sea consists of the turtle camouflaging the nest site. After packing the sand down tightly over the eggs, the female leatherback begins to thrash with all flippers, throwing sand wildly over the nest site. This is an instinctive attempt to protect the eggs from predators.
Here is a link to the AISTW website where you can find several videos including videos of nesting mothers digging holes, depositing eggs, camouflaging the nest and returning to the sea. Enjoy!
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
Once the egg laying process is complete, the leatherback turtle will begin to drag the sand she took out to build the chamber and use it to cover the eggs. She will carefully pack the sand tightly over the eggs, creating a sealed chamber with just enough oxygen for the eggs to develop into healthy hatchlings.
The final nesting behavior before returning to sea consists of the turtle camouflaging the nest site. After packing the sand down tightly over the eggs, the female leatherback begins to thrash with all flippers, throwing sand wildly over the nest site. This is an instinctive attempt to protect the eggs from predators.
Here is a link to the AISTW website where you can find several videos including videos of nesting mothers digging holes, depositing eggs, camouflaging the nest and returning to the sea. Enjoy!
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
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