Cape Lookout National Seashore
2004 Sea Turtle Monitoring Program

The CLNS Sea Turtle Monitoring Program is a program run by park biologists Jeff Cordes & Michael Rikard that began in 1976. Since 1984 Cape Lookout has conducted daytime monitoring to document strandings, protect nest sites, relocate nests in danger of being flooded and protect hatchlings. Many thanks to Jeff, Mike, other park staff and volunteers for all their hard work in helping to protect nesting sea turtles. The following is a condensed version of their 2004 report. The complete report may be obtained by contacting them at the park.

Nesting Results:

The first recorded nesting activity in 2004 was on April 21 and the last on August 30, for a 131 day nesting season. A total of 199 activities were documented of which there were 77 nests, 15 digs, and 107 crawls. The number of nests found in the park in 2004 was the lowest total since 1988 and well below the annual average of 131 nests. The greatest concentration of nests in the park occurred between Mile 42 and 44 on SCB. Seven leatherback turtle nesting activities were found, including three confirmed nests. The leatherback activities were found at intervals of six to thirteen days and may have been from a single female. A confirmed green turtle crawl was found on NCB June 24. One nest on South Core Banks was possibly a green turtle nest but this could not be confirmed because the nest was washed away before hatching. All other nesting activities in the park were by loggerhead turtles.

Hatching Results:

The last nest was excavated on November 3. The average clutch size was 104 eggs. It took an average of 64 days for nests to incubate. 43% of the eggs produced hatchlings that made it out of the nest (emergence success), the highest for any one nest being 98% and lowest 0%. A total of 7,309 eggs were counted. Seven nests were washed away with the numbers of eggs unknown. 3,139 of these eggs hatched and hatchlings emerged or were released from the nest. Flooding during Hurricane Alex and several other storms had a great impact on the 2004 nesting season. A total of 53 nests were flooded by the ocean. Thirty six nests were washed away or failed to hatch due to flooding.

Predation and Human Disturbances:

In 2004, two nests lost eggs or hatchlings to ghost crabs. Ghost crab predation was recorded when eggshells were found on the surface. Raccoon predation did not occur on any nests. No problems with root invasion in nests or artificial lights attracting hatchlings were observed. Ten violations of vehicle closures for turtle nests were documented which was a great improvement from previous years.