Full story of nest 69

Nest 69 was laid on August 29th, lastest nest ever laid on Hunting Island in 25 years

At 41 days sand temperature outside nest dropped below 80 degrees for duration of nest 69 incubation.

Nest 69

98 eggs total

2 undeveloped

96

20 hatched

76

12 pipped

64

64 had late stage development determined by touch

20 live ones put back in nest

15 dead on check week later 12/17

18 determined to be unviable

Dumped along with 20 hatched eggs

46 thought to be still viable put back into nest .

2 hatched eggs of 46 found on check one week later 12/17

11/14 - first inventory check of nest 69,

Viable eggs found everything reburied and left to continue incubation

12/3- check to see condition of egg if still viable,found hatchlings close to surface. Green hatchlings rebury and caged.

At SCDNR MTP guidance told to let sit a week.

12/10- check of nest found results listed above . Per SCDNR MTP guidance told to rebury and cage.

Plan was on 12/12 to remove all live hatchlings and take them to warmer waters offshore. Unfortunately that plan was changed to waiting for another week.

12/17-

Found 15 of 20 live hatchlings had passed, also found 2 of viable eggs had hatched. No live hatchlings found .

Put remaining viable eggs back in nest

12/31 final inventory- 8 hatched eggs found at inventory appears all emerged from nest on their own

Nest 69 taught us a valuable lesson , that cooler to cold temps don't kill eggs and hatchlings. Just slows development.