Adopt a Nest

Get the chance to be inside the ropes for the nest excavation and potentially watch hatchlings make it to sea!

Adopt a Nest

Thank you for your interest in the Conservancy’s Adopt-a-Nest!

Your adoption supports a sea turtle nest laid on one of our beaches on Bald Head Island. In adopting, you get the chance to be an important part of our Sea Turtle Protection Team and the chance to be inside the ropes for a nest excavation and potentially watch hatchlings make it to the ocean!

As an Adopt-a-Nest parent, you will receive the following gifts as a thank you for your adoption:

• In-depth sea turtle season summary email from BHIC’s Sea Turtle Biologist, Paul Hillbrand

• Personalized email notifications from BHIC when your nest is laid and when the excavation will take place (see details below)

Adoption Details

If you are adopting a nest as a gift, please provide the name of the recipient(s), as well as their email address and mailing address (if not the same as yours) in the comment box below.

Please Note

Adoption Selection Process

All Adopt-a contributions are symbolic adoptions. No individual or group that participates in our adoption program may claim ownership of a sea turtle, their nest, egg, or a hatchling. Each adoption is considered a donation to support the Conservancy’s Sea Turtle Protection Program. Because demand sometimes exceeds the number of available nests per season, we hope you’ll enjoy “sharing” a nest with another adoptive parent or family - which is part of the spirit of community support for these amazing creatures!

In the unfortunate event that the nest is lost due to a natural disturbance (such as predation or a natural disaster) refunds or re-assignments are not available. Instead, adoptive parent(s) will be invited to the excavation of another nest.

Please know that during busy times, especially following natural disturbances, Bald Head Island Conservancy staff may require extra time to provide a detailed update on nest status. We appreciate your patience and promise to keep you informed as best we can!

For questions regarding the Conservancy's Adopt-a-Program, contact our Philanthropy Team at development@bhic.org

Through our Sea Turtle Protection Program, we monitor and attempt to tag all female sea turtles that are observed on the beaches of BHI. This monitoring program has been collecting data for 40+ years, allowing us to thoughtfully and accurately select the right turtle for you.

Our Sea Turtle Protection Team cannot assign an Adopt-a parent to any requested nests or sea turtles, nor guarantee that assignment will be given by a specific date. Adopt-as are assigned chronologically by the date of contribution, utilizing the selection process below.

Nest is found and nesting female is not observed

Nest is found and nesting female is observed but not ID’d

Nest is found and nesting female is ID’d as a neophyte (1st nesting season, never observed on BHI before)

Adopt a Nest

Adopt a Nest

Adoption Details

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