Returning Home
From May to October each year, Fripp Island experiences a wonder of nature. It is during this time that the loggerhead sea turtles return to nest. Each year dozens of adult females come ashore, on various stretches of beach, to lay a clutch of 100 or more eggs. Many of these females were born on the island only to return some 20 to 30 years later to nest.
Each female will nest and lay eggs 3-5 times each season, digging an egg chamber near dunes away from rising tides. After laying her eggs, the turtle will return to the ocean before returning 12 to 14 days later to build another nesting spot. After the final nesting, turtles return to the ocean and will repeat the cycle every 2-4 years.
Hatchlings
A sea turtle egg will incubate in about 60 days. This varies a bit with temperature, with warmer conditions leading to faster development of the embryos. Interestingly, cooler sand has a tendency to produce more males, while warmer sand produces more females. Once an embryos has fully developed, the hatchlings break out of their shell using “a temporary, sharp egg-tooth, called a ‘caruncle.’ The caruncle is an extension of the upper jaw that falls off soon after birth.” (conserveturtles.org) Now out of their shells, the little hatchlings somehow know to emerge from the sand. Usually emerging at night when the temperature is milder, they dig their way up through about 18” of sand. As a group, the newborns paddle their way to the top before beginning their journey across the sand. This process of emerging can take several days.
Heading to Sea
The journey to the sea is no small task for these little creatures. They must move quickly so as not to get dehydrated or become prey to birds or crabs. As mentioned earlier, many sea turtles return to the beach where they were born. Some scientists believe this is due to a turtle’s ability to read the earth’s magnetic field, while others believe the hatchlings takes an imprint of their birth beach, smell, sound, even celestial cues, while making the trek from nest to water. All pretty amazing, nonetheless.
What to Know
Here on Fripp Island, we are blessed to be a key location for loggerhead nesting along the east coast of the US. With that, it is our responsibility to be good stewards of their habitat and respect their space. To that effort we have the Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol, made up of volunteers, which monitors and marks nests along the beaches each day throughout the season. (See their 2019 Photo Album and 2020 Photo Album and the 2021 Nest Log.)
Thank you, Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol! We really appreciate all of your hard work.
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If you are fortunate and see an adult female nesting, or traveling to or from the ocean, it is very important to maintain a 20’ distance and be sure to stay clear of her path. Also, do not use flashlights while walking on the beach. If you encounter the hatchlings rising from the sand, or making their way to the water, do not get near and, again, do not use any lighting. Hatchlings rely on the moon over the water to guide their way and can get easily turned around if another light source is nearby.
If you see a hatchling moving away from the ocean, DO NOT pick it up, as it is against federal law to touch a sea turtle without the proper permit. If you see a hatchling and are worried about the direction in which it is moving, please call Fripp Island Security or the Activity Center at (843)-838-1516. (Source: Fripp Island Resort)
The wonders of Fripp island are abundant and the seasonal nesting of loggerhead sea turtles is no exception. Enjoy from a distance and share in the amazing process that has been going on for more than 100 million years!
Its Turtle Season on the Coast 🐢💖
We are super lucky that Buddina is a yearly laying ground for the beautiful and endangered Loggerhead Turtles.
Its super important that we all
keep off the dune areas as the mamma turtles have been laying
their eggs in the dunes and we need to keep them safe so they can hatch and make it back down into the ocean.
Lets all keep them safe 💖
🙏🏻 🐢 🙏🏻
If you would like more info you can contact the Turtle Friends of Buddina, Turtlecare or Sunshine Coast Council.
Photo andrewschofield
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#turtlesbuddina #loggerheadturtle #turtlecare #turtles #buddinabeach #saveourturtles #kawanaturtles #friendsofbuddina #weloveturtles #coffeeandturtles #twinfinsespressobarbuddina #localturtles #pointcartwrightdrivebuddina #turtles🐢 #turtlefriends
Eye spy a loggerhead on the reef 😍
I was fortunate enough to see one loggerhead sea turtle on my last dive on the ledge. Soon here in the spring you will be able to spy dozens of these beauties as they return to our local beaches in Juno for nesting season. Really looking forward to that - and to some warmer conditions!
#loggerhead #respectthelocals #turtlelover
Wowee! Last night was spectacular!! We were able to witness a Loggerhead coming out from the surf and laying her 95 eggs. Then got to help relocate the eggs to somewhere on the beach that was safer for the hatchlings. Then we were lucky enough to see a RARE sighting of a Flatback hatchling making its way down to the ocean. What an amazing experience 🐢❤️#seaturle #loggerheadturtle #flatbackturtle #hatchling
Had a nice afternoon in my favourite place ☺️ always feel so calm and happy here 💜 #oceanarium #oceanariumbournemouth #otters #fish #penguins #myfavouriteplace #mysafeplace #myhappyplace #pignosedturtle #loggerheadturtle #myspecialinterest
Had a nice afternoon in my favourite place ☺️ always feel so calm and happy here 💜 #oceanarium #oceanariumbournemouth #otters #fish #penguins #myfavouriteplace #mysafeplace #myhappyplace #pignosedturtle #loggerheadturtle #myspecialinterest
Had a nice afternoon in my favourite place ☺️ always feel so calm and happy here 💜 #oceanarium #oceanariumbournemouth #otters #fish #penguins #myfavouriteplace #mysafeplace #myhappyplace #pignosedturtle #loggerheadturtle #myspecialinterest
Had a nice afternoon in my favourite place ☺️ always feel so calm and happy here 💜 #oceanarium #oceanariumbournemouth #otters #fish #penguins #myfavouriteplace #mysafeplace #myhappyplace #pignosedturtle #loggerheadturtle #myspecialinterest
Had a nice afternoon in my favourite place ☺️ always feel so calm and happy here 💜 #oceanarium #oceanariumbournemouth #otters #fish #penguins #myfavouriteplace #mysafeplace #myhappyplace #pignosedturtle #loggerheadturtle #myspecialinterest
Had a nice afternoon in my favourite place ☺️ always feel so calm and happy here 💜 #oceanarium #oceanariumbournemouth #otters #fish #penguins #myfavouriteplace #mysafeplace #myhappyplace #pignosedturtle #loggerheadturtle #myspecialinterest
The Fripp Island Resort offers a Turtle Walk nature program to visit the nests and learn about these magnificent creatures. May through September.
☏ 843-838-1516