Bonaire’s turtle nesting season has begun.
Summertime on Bonaire means a new season for baby sea turtles. Bonaire’s turtle nesting season began on May 1st, and ten days later, the first nest was discovered by volunteer beach keepers on Klein Bonaire. Earlier this month, the first nest of 2021 hatched!
Bonaire has three main species of turtles: hawksbill, green, and loggerhead turtles. The hawksbill and green turtles can be found year-round on Bonaire, while loggerhead turtles typically visit during the nesting season. Hawksbill turtles tend to be the most active and are responsible for the majority of nests on Bonaire.
STCB Staff and beach keepers play a vital role in protecting the sea turtles.
The first hatchlings enter the sea.
Since the beginning of the 2021 season, STCB has recorded 19 nests on Klein Bonaire and 18 on Bonaire. Earlier this month, STCB excavated the first hatched nest of 2021. The nest was successful with 97 loggerhead hatchlings safely emerging from their nest on Klein Bonaire.
Each year, an average of 75 nests are laid on Bonaire. Turtles tend to lay between 3 to 6 clutches of eggs during the nesting season and each nest typically contains 100 to 180 eggs, depending on the species.
Recording data each season is essential for long-term studies.
Throughout the year, STCB collects vital information in various ways to continue sea turtle research. STCB uses an in-water survey method to count and identify sea turtles with the help of volunteers and staff. They also use a net-capture method to measure, weigh, tag and check for signs of disease.
During the nesting season, STCB records details about sea turtle nests on Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. The data is used to show stable long-term nesting trends for hawksbill, green, and loggerhead turtles on Bonaire. Over the years, thousands of endangered sea turtle hatchlings made it safely to the sea due to STCB’s nest adoption program.
(Source: STCB)
