I bet you thought I forgot. But I didn't. Today, finally, the Turtle People "closed out" nest #71, also known as My Nest. There were 72 nests on the island of Holden Beach this year, so mine was one of the last ones laid. Unfortunately for me, the turtles, and all the people involved, it was laid very late in the season, and there wasn't enough warmth in the sand to properly incubate the eggs. None of them hatched naturally, despite all the time and energy and good thoughts beamed their way by the humans watching over them, this last month. A few were removed from the nest and taken to the new turtle hospital up the coast, where they'll be allowed to develop a bit more and then will be taken, by boat, directly to the Gulf Stream, where they'd naturally be headed from here. There they'll get a free ride in the warm currents flowing South to wherever it is they'd normally spend the winter. I'm hoping they make it to adulthood, and if they aren't too bamboozled by all the detours in their childhood, come back to nest here on the island-- some time in June or July, when it's nice and warm.
I hope to be right here, watching for them!
ps-- No, I didn't take that brilliant baby picture. Mine weren't that cute!!
