Kemp ridley sea turtles on gilcrest island

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tortadise

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I am pleased to say that I am to this very second searching for nest of the kemp ridley sea turtle. I have been coming down here to our families beach house for 20 years and never knew they had laid eggs here. So far I have seen tracks but no mama. I hope I can find a mama nesting to call TXPW to come gather the eggs and take them to galveaton for incubation. How exciting. I have never seen this species before.
 

tortadise

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Still no sign of any yet physically. I know when I go to costa rica every year moon light helps. As well as the rarity of these guys too. Im not suppose to take photos but I will see what I can do. Maybe I will see some in the morning as these guys are late morning layers and back in the water during the daytime.
 

tortadise

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Well didnt see any females. But found some nest sites and called the number on the signs. Texas parks and wildlife showed very quickly and staked it off. I had a good time talking with the people that organized this operation. They had no idea that as many 1000 females lay their eggs on gilcrest island. Small private beaches I guess nobody knew whom to tell that turtles were laying. But now the beach is protected and monitored. I think this is so cool especially been going down there for so long. heres a nest that was staked off. I think I will be doing a lot more trips in the future.
 

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I think green sums my feelings up pretty well. :D
 

tortadise

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:D Its so awesome seeing any species of sea turtle lay eggs or even know that 200-300 eggs are under the sand in one spot. Should be on everyones bucket list and a good effort for conservation to say the least. All 7 species of sea turtles are pretty endangered.
 

tortoises101

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tortadise said:
:D Its so awesome seeing any species of sea turtle lay eggs or even know that 200-300 eggs are under the sand in one spot.

:) What's spectacular about the Kemp's is that in the 1960's they were under severe threat from egg-collecting and in the 1980's they were all but extinct. An effort to save the eggs released 20-30 thousand hatchlings into the sea each year. The inclusion of a year-round turtle-excluder device (TED) in 1992. An arribada was reported in 2002.
 

tortadise

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I have been reading up on those guys. They were really really close to being extinct. Its a good sign having these nest in a new place. To me this means they are climbing in numbers.
 

shellysmom

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tortadise said:
:D Its so awesome seeing any species of sea turtle lay eggs or even know that 200-300 eggs are under the sand in one spot. Should be on everyones bucket list and a good effort for conservation to say the least. All 7 species of sea turtles are pretty endangered.


This is completely amazing, and I am totally jealous.

I just checked my bucket list to make sure it's there. Yup. Number 27. :D Right after "Throw a dart on a map, and go wherever it lands."
 
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