Our last nest of the season.
It was rainy, windy, and just chilly enough to make me wonder if I should even go. Then there was some pretty major construction on my way to the nest site. I had just talked myself into heading home when I saw a friend who was going rain or shine.
I decided to go.
When we got to the beach, we saw red lights indicating that someone was checking the nest. Instead of going off after a minute or so, they stayed on. That’s usually a really good sign that something is happening.
We booked it to the nest just in time to see the first two babies emerge. They were disoriented and started to head toward the construction lights instead of the Gulf. It wasn’t the water, the salty air, or the sound of the waves that attracted them. They really wanted those lights and it was amazing to see the power they had over the tiny newborns. Unfortunately, the thing they wanted meant imminent danger because they were headed away from their new home.
Eventually the sea won and one hundred two babies made it into the Gulf.
I’ve never worked harder at a nest but it was so worth it.
All footage obtained with the approval of US Fish and Wildlife under conditions not harmful to these or other turtles.
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