2024 Nesting Season Executive Summary

By Sea Turtle Biologist Paul Hillbrand

*All data subject to change.

Figure 1. The Conservancy’s 2024 Sea Turtle Conservation and Nighttime Tagging Team. Left–Right: Emma Phillips, Tiana De Grande, Karlee Szympruch, Justin Jenkins, and Isi Smy.

Although the 2024 nesting season brought below-average numbers, the Bald Head Island Conservancy’s (BHIC) Sea Turtle Protection Team (STPT; Figure 1) is thrilled to report that no eggs were lost to mammalian predation—the second time this milestone has been achieved in the past three seasons! The STPT patrolled the beaches of BHI for 184 days/nights (58 dawn, 58 partial nights, and 68 full nights), observing 73 nests, of which 36 (49.3%) were relocated, and 64 false crawls; with the first activity on May 16 and the last on August 1. All activities were determined to be loggerhead (Caretta caretta), with at least 32 genetically distinct individual females responsible for the 137 nesting activities observed. The STPT also observed the return of 2 legacy turtles (Claire & Emily) and named 2 new legacy turtles (Kai & Mamo). The first hatching event was observed on July 17, while the last nest was excavated on October 29. The average incubation time for the 73 nests was 57.6 days. Approximately 7,689 eggs were laid on BHI, with an estimated 6,100 hatchlings making it to the water. Mean hatch success was 80.5%, while mean emerge success was 78.2%. Our most productive mom was Mamo, who laid 670 eggs that produced 580 hatchlings. Our most successful mom was RRZ271, with a hatch success of 95.3% and an emergence success of 94.6%. With a highly active Atlantic hurricane season, BHI was fortunate to have lost only one full nest to Potential Tropical Cyclone 8. However, roughly 10 additional nests were impacted by inundation from a combination of hurricanes, tropical storms, and king tides.

Figure 2. FFX385 heading back to the ocean after being outfitted with a satellite tag.

Figure 3. Migration Routes: On the left are the northern migrations of KKD855 (green), Nubbins (light blue), Sandy (dark blue), & Scarlett (pink) and on the right is the migration route of FFX285 (red).

Additionally, the Conservancy deployed two new satellite tags, one of which was in collaboration with the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. This rehabilitated juvenile loggerhead named Madison was outfitted with a tag and released from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area’s beach. The Conservancy also tagged a neophyte named FFX385 (Figure 2) on BHI during our nesting season. Unlike the four individuals tagged in 2023, FFX385 headed south, through the Straits of Florida, settling down to forage on the west coast of Florida about 20–30 miles off Marco Island. In contrast, the four turtles tagged in 2023 headed north to forage from the Capes of North Carolina to Atlantic City, NJ (Figure 3).

All sea turtle monitoring and research performed pursuant to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Endangered Species Permit #24ST14. Visit www.bhic.org for more details on the Sea Turtle Protection Program and how you can support the sea turtles of BHI.