A very special day

Saturday was a very special day! I had an opportunity to witness the release of Kemp's ridley hatchlings at Opal Beach.

A small group of Park Rangers, volunteers, their friends and family gathered to help with the release. It was also an exciting time for a few Park visitors who just happened to be in the area and saw their first hatchlings and learned about these magnificent little creatures.


A wide swath of sand was smoothed to make the hatchlings march to the Gulf a bit easier. We also took time to fill in ghost crab holes to prevent them from feasting on the tiny turtles. Then two lines were drawn in the sand behind which observers stood during the release to prevent accidentally stepping on a hatchling.


The Gulf water was clear and calm for the release. It was a picture perfect day.


Ranger Beckie Mims teaches her daughter Gracie how to hold a tiny hatchling.


Lila Cox releases her first hatchling!


And photographs "her" turtle!


Did you know that the endangered Kemp's ridley turtles, the smallest of the marine turtles, frequently hatch during the day, unlike Loggerhead, Greens and Leatherbacks?


Kirsten Dahlen, a marine biologist who works for the National Park Service works hard to educate people on how to help protect our sea turtles.


{{{Am I there yet?}}}



Poor little thing faces some staggering obstacles. Some estimates are that only 1 in every 10,000 hatchling will make it to maturity! I thought it was closer to 1 in 100. Now I see how much they need our help to survive.


Oh no! Small sharks are checking out the action. Go away!


A hatchling scootin' along. To be so small, they can actually move pretty fast when they get a glimpse of the waves.


A volunteer steps in to help out when a hatchling gets overturned.


He made it to the water! YEAAAAA!



Another possible problem... A school of small fish attract sea gulls, which would just love a morsel of tiny turtle.


"Just the two of us,
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us, just the two of us...
Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us, you and I..."


Lila checks out the hatchling she's getting ready to release. "Can I keep him?"


Kirsten photographs hatchlings as they swim away.


Buh-bye, baby. See you on the beach in my lifetime, I hope! Kemp's ridleys reach maturity faster than other marine turtles and begin may begin nesting between 12 - 15 years of age.

A National Geographic article I discovered online stated there may be as few as 1,000 nesting female Kemp's ridleys world-wide at this point. How proud are we that we've suddenly discovered some of these endangered sea turtles on Santa Rosa Island. We are determined to help them survive!

If you want to learn more about sea turtles and how to increase odds for their survival, be sure to check out Traveling Turtle Girl's blog.

Kemp's ridley release!

We had a great group of folks assisting in the release of nearly 80 Kemp's ridley hatchlings at Opal Beach today. I was working on a more complete posting, but when I saw how adorable some of them look close up, I just couldn't wait to share the initial photos with you.


{{{"Don't get between me and the water, lady!"}}}

I promise, I didn't get in his/her way. It turned toward me and paused for a close-up! I swear! Please click on the photo to see an enlargement of this adorable little turtle.

Stay tuned for more photos from this morning. In the meantime, click HERE for much more information about Kemp's ridley turtles.

Loggerhead hatchling release

I was thrilled when Kirsten (our Traveling Turtle Girl) invited me to see fifteen tiny Loggerhead hatchlings released into the Gulf of Mexico tonight. You may read more about the reason for the delay in their release on Kirsten's blog.


Look at their tiny flippers! And note the dark color variation between the hatchling on the upper left and the others.


If you click on the photo above, you can actually see the claws on its back flipper. Aren't they magnificent creatures?


He/she is ready to say goodbye to us for several years, but hopefully will return safely to Pensacola Beach someday.


Adorable little Zander is a fantastic public relations man for the "Turtle Friendly Beach Program"! He handed out brochures and switch stickers to the folks that gathered around, reminding us to turn out the lights for turtles. You tell 'em, Zander!


The first five hatchlings begin moving toward the water.


Look at the surf the little turtles (who weigh about one ounce) must get past tonight. Hurricane Dolly still has the Gulf of Mexico stirred up, though not as bad as last night. Godspeed to the tiny loggerhead hatchlings!

Please check out Traveling Turtle Girl's site for more info on our turtles, how to help them, and life within our area of the Gulf Islands National Park.