2012 Terrapin Nesting Season

The end of the nesting season was on September 25, 2012 with over 500 hatchlings recovered, meaning a 75% hatch success rate at Sedge.  We also outfitted 5 terrapins with depth and temperature sensors that will (hopefully) be recovered in 2013.  Thanks again as we had a great yeat with terrific interns and volunteers.

It is hatching time!  We have recovered over 240 hatchlings as of August 27, 2012 out of 28 nests.  It is a good year so far.  Thanks Jillian, Dylan, Angelica, Estefany, Ryan and Juliet and helping with the hatchling recovery.

                                           Check out our hatchlings that we measure and
                                            release back to the marshes on N. Sedge!

At Sedge, we have moved and protected over 600 eggs with our last female terrapin disgging a nest on Tuesday July 17, 2012.  As we wind down the nesting season, hatching and emergence will be in the near future.  Thanks to Lauren, who coordinated the nest relocation project this summer. 


June 22, 2012 we fitted three female terrapins with temperature and depth sensors to determine annual exposure in terms of temperatures and depths that a female would encounter at Barnegat Bay.  We fitted old reliable, AHPW, along with BHIO and NPQW all funded by Exelon Energy Corporation, Oyster Creek.  Nesting season is going very well with 26 known female nests and 6 nests from unknown females.  This puts us at approximately 451 eggs protected as of June 22.  I would like to thank our awesome interns and volunteers for their work...
Lauren, Jackie, Juliet, Ryan, Lisa, Dylan and Jillian!  As of June 30, 2012, we are at 500 eggs and we outfitted terrapin AJVW with a logger (see picture below...).  Her datalogger was sponsored by the students at Cedar Creek Elementary School in Lacey Township as part of their generous donation to Project Terrapin. 



Terrapin code AJVW with transmitter on back left carapace

On Saturday May 26, our first female terrapin was captured on N. Sedge Island (code ACIW).  On Wednesday May 30, we found our first nest and marked two more female terrapins.  We welcome Lauren Cruz from the University of Delaware as a summer student researcher (see below).  Lauren is studying the effects of coastal upwelling events and how the reduced temperatures brought on by upwelling may impact nesting frequency.  We have a new hatchery on the Island as well!  On June 2, our familiar nester, code AHPW, came back to the Island for her tenth consecutive year.  We hope to see her in two weeks to fit her with a temperature and depth datalogger to determine what conditions she is exposed for a year.  We also had a female terrapin nest June 3 that was 2007 grams!  The largest ever measured on N. Sedge Island!

See our new hatchery below... Thanks Tony Raniero for the easy access design and look!

Lauren Cruz installing a "human traffic counter" as part of her terrapin nesting study on N. Sedge Island

2012 LBI Nesting Project

High Bar Harbor had a tremendous hatch success rate this year.  Over 1000 hatchlings emerged out of 1063 eggs.  This is definitely a record in terms of hatch success.  Kathy and her volunteers were tremendous and we look forward to 2013! 

On Tuesday August 10, the first clutches of hatchlings emerged at the High Bar Hatchery!

High Bar sets the Bar High!  Kathy and her amazing team, have rescued over 1000 eggs this year.  The Crimi Hatchery is keeping the eggs safe from predators.   Kathy needs help monitoring the emergence of the hatchlings starting July 23.  Please get involved and take a shift! 

                                           View of terrapin nests protected in one of two
                                              hatcheries on High Bar Harbor, LBI, NJ

Kathy and her High Bar and Barnegat Light Team are working very hard this season.  They've saved over 700 eggs as of June 30 2012.  See below for the latest nest that is being protected on site!  There are 15 sites protected outside of the hatchery!  Thanks to the Crimi's for the addition of a 2nd hatchery.

We will continue our project at the LBI Foundation and also at High Bar Harbor. The goal is to protect terrapin nests from negative human impacts.  Kathy aided by her dedicated team of volunteers already moved over 16 nests from heavily trafficked areas to the hatchery - just June 3, 2012! 

Kathy is locating a terrapin nest on LBI with the aid of Grace

A new hatchery was installed by some very dedicated volunteers (thanks to John Crimi for all of his hard work and generous support) working under the direction of Kathy Lacey.  This is part of the LBI/ High Bar Harbor Conservation Program.

Here are some goals on Long Beach Island...
1) Assess and log terrapin nests with little, to no, impact on the female terrapins
2) Possibly relocate nests in areas with high human traffice (walking and cars)
3) Conduct a mark and recapture study of nesting female terrapins (after they nest)
4) Maintain hatcheries at the LBI Foundation in Loveladies and High Bar Harbor
5) Promote awareness and stewardship of  terrapins and Barnegat Bay, NJ

 

2012 Upcoming Events

We

Nesting season was long, but we had hatching and emergence on August 10 at LBI, and August 18 at N. Sedge Island. 

Our first female landed and nested on N. Sedge Island at Barnegat Bay (code ACIW) on Saturday May 26 at 1:00 p.m. 

The season has begun and here is what is happening...
The High Bar Terrapin Team (thanks John Crimi) have a great new hatchery and much nesting activity
We just completed the new hatchery at N. Sedge Island on June 2, 2012 (Thanks Tony Raniero)
We are reconditioning the hatchery at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences
Long Beach Township just filled sand in an area at the LBIF that may be used by nesting females instead of "having to cross" the main boulevard
We just completed a terrapin nest site enhancement project on Cedar Run Dock Road (see picture below)!

Come out and check out our terrapin conservation display (italicized were completed)...
May 19, 2012 - Ocean Fun Day at Island Beach State Park (Was terrific with over 3000 visitors!)
June 3, 2012 - Barnegat Bay Festival - Island Height, NJ (It seemed that there were 1000's there)
June 9, 2012 - Thanks to all of you who participated in the training
July 6, 2012 - Barnegat Bay Green Day at the LBIF was successful and well attended!
Aug. 22, 2012 - U.S. Coast Guard Open House - Barnegat Light, NJ    A great day with USCG!
Sept. 8. 2012 - Barnegat Township's Pirate Day (all day downtown Barnegat) A nice turnout for sure
Sept. 9, 2012 - Beach Plum Festival at Island Beach State Park (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)  Awesome as always
Oct. 7, 2012  - Cattus Island  Nature Festival - Wet, but a great turnout
Oct. 11, 2012 - Student Summit Clean Ocean Action IBSP - Over 350 students and great event!

Please contact projectterrapin@gmail.com for any inquiries.

                          Cedar Run Dock Road Terrapin Nesting Enhancement Project