Southeast Regional Sea Turtle Meeting, Hilton Head, 2025

By Dr. Jennifer Wiggen, Senior Educator

Top (left to right): Katrina Dutton, Savannah Weber, Ali Johnson, Emma Phillips, Tiana DeGrande, Paul Hillbrand, and Dr. Jennifer Wiggen. Bottom (left to right): Emily Hardin, Heather Bariso, and Natalie Monnier.

BHI Conservancy staff and interns had an amazing time at the Southeast Regional Sea Turtle Network meeting last week in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Overall, the meeting logged:

• 420 attendees
• 42 presentations
• 80 posters
• 11 sponsors
• 24 vendors

Tiana DeGrande, 2024 Sea Turtle Intern

Emma Phillips, 2024 Sea Turtle Intern

The BHI Conservancy was represented at the Meeting by our Sea Turtle Biologist (Paul Hillbrand), Senior Educator (Dr. Jennifer Wiggen), Coastal Educator (Heather Bariso) and two previous Sea Turtle Protection Interns, Tiana DeGrande (2024; right) and Emma Phillips (2024; left). Emma presented the work she conducted during her internship entitled “What Horizon? The Effect of Light Pollution on Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Hatchlings on Bald Head Island, NC.” She will be returning to Bald Head Island as BHIC’s Sea Turtle Technician for the 2025 nesting season! Tiana also presented work she conducted during her internship entitled “The Impact of Egg Orientation During Nest Relocations on Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Nest Success.” She is currently working toward her masters degree at UNCW. 

Sea Turtle Biologist Paul Hillbrand presents his satellite telemetry data at SERSTM

Paul Hillbrand presented his satellite telemetry data, “Temporal utilization of BOEM wind energy properties along the East Coast by post-nesting loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles,” and represented North Carolina on the Voices From the Beach panel, speaking about the challenges and successes of working on the beach.

SERSTM attendees learn hands-on education techniques using real tools and plush sea turtles

Heather Bariso led a workshop on sea turtle conservation outreach and education techniques. In the workshop, participants were able to have hands-on experiences that allowed them to learn techniques for educating without a sea turtle present. Lastly, Dr. Jennifer Wiggen served on the meeting planning committee and participated on the Workshop Committee and Education and Outreach Committee. 

It was a wonderful week of connecting with so many past interns and staff from the BHI Conservancy! We love to learn about what everyone is up to and see where everyone is now. Looking forward to SERSTM 2027!