Georgia recorded a record 4,282 loggerhead sea turtle nests this year, marking a milestone in conservation efforts to protect the threatened species.
Years of efforts to protect sea turtles appear to be paying off as the population shows signs of recovery. In 2004, Georgia recorded just 358 loggerhead nests.
Tybee Island, near Savannah, also set a record with 59 nests this year.
Loggerhead sea turtles commonly nest on Georgia’s barrier islands, including Cumberland, Blackbeard, Jekyll, Wassaw and Little Cumberland islands.
On Wassaw Island, a national wildlife refuge, groups of ecotourists take turns staying overnight to document nesting sea turtles and monitor their activity.
Georgia’s loggerhead nesting season typically runs from May through October. Female loggerheads generally lay three to five nests per season but can lay as many as seven.
Male loggerhead sea turtles are also crucial for the nesting season as they compete for mates annually while females only lay eggs every two to three years. The males who get to reproduce prove they are the strongest ones ensuring their strong traits are passed down to their offspring.
Five sea turtle species are found in Georgia waters, but loggerheads are the only species that regularly nests in the state.
The record number of nests offers a sign of progress in ongoing efforts to protect sea turtles and preserve Georgia’s coastal wildlife.
