Predictions, round 2!

At just past the season half way mark we have two new entrants to pool for estimating the number of neophytes and the total number of turtles that will start laying before November 15^th.

	Total	Neophytes
Kate	78	28
Jepson	75	25
Katrina	76	22
Seth	75	21
Mark	69	19
Dom	81	30
Rob	69	14
Alex	72	17

Rob and Alex cannot win the top prize – 2 coconuts and a mango so far in the basket!

Original predictions are here!

A loss in the population

We just received news that one of the Jumby girls was found washed up on the beach at Blue Waters on mainland Antigua. She was tagged in 2003 and was only on her second nesting season and deposited one nest this year. The cause of death is unknown and the body has been buried. It is possible that she drowned, as there were no visible signs of injury.

Stranded hawksbill turtle. Photo J. Prince

July update

The month of July has seen an extra 13 turtles start their nesting seasons, with 73 extra nests being deposited. This leaves us with a total of 45 turtles and 120 nests so far this season.  The first hatchlings have also scurried across the sand and into the ocean. Only 2 extra neophytes have been recorded, but we hold high hopes to see the numbers bolstered by the end of the season. July saw the greatest number of nests deposited in one night, with 9 nests for only 4 false crawls.

There is still a positive trend in nests outnumbering unsuccessful attempts; the turtles have been nesting across all sections of the beach but seem to have shifted from the Northern end back towards the center of the beach. The area between the leaning palm and Bananaquit accounts for nearly 20% of all the nests deposited this season; in 2009 and 2010 that same section accounted for only 10% of the nests. 

Hatchling in water.  D. Tilley