Sea Turtles Hatchlings Pour From Nest 1 at Litchfield by the Sea, SC

After sitting near a Loggerhead sea turtle nest from early morning to evening, one volunteer had a big surprise recently on the Litchfield by the Sea beach. Goffinet McLaren of Pawleys Island said she was watching the first three baby turtles emerge from Nest No. 1, each traveling alone to the ocean sea. Once the sun went down, there was a churning of sand, she said. One head at a time popped out of the nest until there was an explosion of life. I was looking at about 50 baby dinosaurs. The experience was worth every moment spent in wait. She is a member of South Carolina Turtle Enthusiasts (SCUTE) organization, which does daily searches along the South Carolina coastline. Beach visitors were spellbound and many acknowledged this experience Friday, July 24, had made their vacation, McLaren said. Hatchlings emerge usually at night in about 60 days, according to McLaren. Since they follow the bright light on the ocean edge, artificial lights along the coast can mislead them, she said. This is definitely a unique experience. So far this year, I have seen a mother turtle lay her eggs, helped find five nests, watched a nest boil and counted eggs. One cannot get closer to nature. McLaren said visitors said the experience made their vacation. Others volunteered they now understood why big holes on the beach and tents and chairs and were a problem, she said. Georgetown County should be proud of this wonderful natural gem on the ocean shores. We should do everything possible to protect and nurture these unique creatures. McLaren reports to Lynn Geuder, who has a letter of authority (LOA) to approach the nests, according to leadership guidelines of long-time licensed volunteer Jeff McClary, SCUTE co-founder along with his now-deceased friend Chris Marlow. Encouraged by Marlow to do turtle protection in 1984, McClary keeps abreast of beach activity and government procedures and regulations. Geuder said shes been doing SCUTE volunteer work since 2001. Now I am training Litchfield by the Sea volunteers, she said. This is the first time I've seen a mass hatching. It was exciting. I will remember this the rest of my life, said Geuder who lives on the Waccamaw Neck. It was wonderful how the LBTS volunteers got to see this and have hands on training, so theyll be ready for more hatchlings this season and nesting and emerging baby turtles next year. She said she was concerned about the little Loggerheads entering into the ocean wave after wave. We tried to keep onlookers from stepping on the hatchlings, she explained. This crowd behaved extremely well, she said. Many many thoughtful questions were asked. One of ten volunteers working under McLaren and Geuder, Pat Milling of Murrells Inlet, commented on her first season as a new SCUTE sea turtle watcher. With those hatchlings going across the sand, it looked as though the little turtles were determined to make it to the water, Milling said.  I've never seen anything like it and this gives me a renewed respect for the natures complexities. The people were instantly drawn into our excitement, Milling said.  Talking to many later, they were long-time visitors who said this experience was one theyd never forgot. Milling said she felt fortunate to be walking the turtles into the water. This is done to keep the crowds from interfering with the hatchlings and possibly injuring them by mistake.  As each turtle made it and began their swim, I felt I was part of a small victory. ---Photos by Kay Mackall and story by Lloyd Mackall,  digital imagery based in Wachesaw East Plantation, 9 Palmetto Place, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576  843-651-4610. Sea turtle video available thru CoastalDitital on YouTube.com