Tybee Island Sea Turtle Project

During nesting season, May to October, Loggerhead Sea Turtles nest on our beach. Females dig their nest, lay eggs, and head back to the ocean. In 60 days, the babies hatch and, on their own, make their way across the beach and out to the sea.

Sea Turtle Project volunteers conduct daily dawn patrols to check for turtle nesting activity that occurred during the night. When we find a nest, we evaluate the site and nests below the high tide line are relocated. To protect the nest, we mark off the site and then monitor it daily. Prior to the hatch date (60 days), we start "nest sitting." When the Ping-Pong ball-sized eggs hatch and the hatchlings emerge from the nest (called a boil), we watch over them as they make their way across the beach and into the sea.