2025 nest status From our Data Czar

Now that June 2025 is in the books, here is the update on nests by month.  For all the volunteers on HI, you feel or can “see” what is going on this year in terms of nesting. We are down from prior years with 54 nests in total at the end of June. Historically over the last 12 years (2013-2024), 2025 is the 3rd lowest nesting May and June on HI.  2014 and 2018 were down years, which we do expect occasionally given the sea turtles’ nature to take 2-3 years off after a nesting year. In all likelihood 2025 will pass 2018 in terms of total nests for year this coming July, and we already exceed the low nesting year of 2013.  This says to me that nesting numbers continue to increase with our conservation efforts. Nesting numbers continue to rise year over year - look at how even the down years (again, we expect them) are trending up from 2014 and 2018. As far as where we will end up once the 2025 season is over is in the air, but if I had to make a prediction it would be 82-87 nests in total. To get there, we need 28-33 more nests in July and August. In August, nesting is historically on the wind down (see chart).  July can be big, however this year would have to be a really strong finish to even reach 82-87.  It has been done.  We had 29 nests this June.  Over the 12 year 2013-2024 period, the number of nests in July has only been greater than the number in June three times. Regardless, it is not doom and gloom.  All of SC nesting numbers seem down this year as well. 

Keith