Sue Wieber Nourse Rescues Exhausted Over-Wintered HatchlingÂ
While checking for threatened diamondback terrapin nesting at Tabor Academy’s Old Schaefer Lab beach this morning, Turtle Journal’s Sue Wieber Nourse discovered an over-wintered terrapin hatchling meandering in the sand.
Emerged Over-Wintered Terrapin Hatchling Meanders
The Schaefer Lab beach is a documented terrapin nesting site, and hosts the most critical nursery salt marsh habitat for infants and juveniles in the Inner Sippican Harbor. Â (See Rare Turtle Nests at Tabor’s Schaefer Lab and Two Rare Terrapin Nests Hatch @ Old Schaefer Oceanology Lab.)
Inaugural Recipient of Jaeger Chair in Marine Studies
Prior to founding Turtle Journal and becoming CEO of Cape Cod Consultants, Sue Wieber Nourse was honored as the inaugural recipient of the endowed Jaeger Chair in Marine Studies at Tabor Academy. Â Sue and her advanced marine science students engaged in highly lauded and original scientific research, funded by a prestigious National Fish & Wildlife Foundation grant, that confirmed the existence of threatened diamondback terrapins in Marion and documented previously unknown nesting sites for these rare turtles. Â Once on the brink of extirpation, their continued survival stems from this successful conservation initiative.
Sue Rescues Exhausted and Dehydrated Hatchling
This little baby hatched early last fall and opted to remain buried upland rather than venturing into the great wild world. Â Given the brutal winter Massachusetts suffered, the hatchling may have chosen wisely. Â This morning, though, the terrapin baby exhausted itself trying to reach the marsh through concrete obstacles exposed on this sand starved beach. Â She had collapsed dehydrated and weak when Sue rescued her. Â The hatchling is recovering at Turtle Journal headquarters, receiving appropriate TLC before being returned to the wild.
TERRAPIN NESTING CONTINUES
Diamondback Terrapin Nesting Run Tracks and Completed Nest
With Sue checking Schaefer, East Marion and Wareham nesting beaches, Don Lewis patrolled other SouthCoast nesting sites. Â At one Aucoot Cove site, Don found a half dozen diamondback terrapin nesting tracks from the nighttime high tide. Â He discovered the clear sign of two completed nests within inches of each other.
Eleven Large, Pink, Freshly Laid Eggs
This first nest contained 11 very large, pink and freshly deposited eggs in a nest chamber four to eight inches under the sand. Â Because of their highly vulnerable location, eggs from this site are harvested and relocated in a protected turtle garden. Â When hatchlings emerge, they are released back at the site of their natal nest.
Another Freshly Complete Diamondback Terrapin Nest
Within inches of the first nest, Don spotted signs of the second completed nest.
Ten Big, Beautiful Pink Eggs Harvested from Second Nest
This second nest contained ten large, pink and freshly deposited eggs in a nest chamber about three to six inches below the surface.
Third Nest Laid on the Overnight High Tide
A third nest was discovered about ten feet from the first two. Â It contained 11 very large and freshly laid eggs in a chamber three to eight inches deep. Â In sum, the Turtle Journal team recovered 32 healthy eggs from this site for protecting in our safe turtle garden.