It’s Turtle Season on Ambergris Caye

For years, I’ve read about – and seen photos of – sea turtles nesting on Ambergris Caye. But I didn’t have much real-life experience.

A few years back, I traveled south to help clean up the miles of beaches outside the tiny (incredible) village of Gales Point. They have one of the most active nesting areas for critically endangered hawksbill turtles in the world. (These turtles are unfortunate enough to have the shells that are used to make jewelry and eyeglasses. VERY Illegal in Belize!)

But yesterday, I saw at least a dozen turtle nests – and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve team working hard to study and protect them.

Quick note: This is far north Ambergris Caye…not a “fun beach drive”. In fact, much of the road is now off-the-beach so that turtle nests are protected. Be very very careful! We saw that Hol Chan had marked a nest just north of El Secreto – just across the road. Thankfully they have cordoned it off.

I didn’t get a ton of pictures…but I wanted to share anyway. Along with some pictures of the gorgeous day.

Some quick facts (all pulled from A Guide to the History and Natural History of Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve):

• The turtles that lay their eggs between Robles and Rocky Point (far north Ambergris Caye) are mainly loggerheads and green sea turtles.
• Nesting season begins in late May and extends thru September
• Only one hatchling in 1000 is thought to survive to adulthood
• These females travel hundreds (or thousands) of miles back to the place of their birth to lay their eggs – they generally lay eggs every two to three years (but maybe more)

A few photos…Jeff goes fishing, Jamie and I go swimming.

The beach is covered in coral as you move farther north…

And more sandy to the south.

I can’t stand a suctioned-to-your-feet beach shoe but you really need them up here. The coral, the uneven shorefront, the glass…and the trash. These, from Amazon, are easy-on and easy-off and not totally hideous.

I found some beach trash that looks like it’s been there for a while.

Harpic WC. A toilet cleaner. Make sure your toilet is clean but toss the bottle in a river?

And the refuse from someone requiring medicated foot power in Colombia or Central Jersey. (Kidding)

And then we started seeing the turtle nests – where these massive sea turtles find their way over the reef, and 8-25 feet up the shoreline – over coral and trash and driftwood – and dig holes. Deep holes to bury their eggs.

We watched as Hol Chan found a new nest and dug down to see if there were truly eggs. (Sometimes the turtles ready a spot but turn back to the sea) They dug to the air pocket (made by the mom) – and stop.

The depth indicates that this is a green turtle. And my pictures don’t show it but you could see 3 eggs peaking thru the sand.

The nests are marked with the dates – when found and when they are expected to hatch – and then monitored weekly.

Yesterday, one of the first nests had hatched. Loggerhead babies. And five were found still struggling to get to the sea. They were gathered by the Marine reserve workers and biologists and will get a bit of R&R before they begin the epic journey.

We got back to our cart – and our sandwiches – just in time. A grackle was trying to help himself to our lunch. Thru the outer plastic bag, thru the plastic wrap…menaces! They liked the roast beef, cheddar, tomatoes and lettuce, and definitely the baguette but they do not like carmelized onions. They threw those all over our cart.

For those of you who do not know the great-tailed grackle, they are everywhere on this island. They are large cheeky and overly confidant birds, they scream and tease the dogs and I am pretty sure that after humans wreck the planet, they will rule the earth. People say cockroaches but my money is on the grackles.

The bumpy, twisty, mosquito-y road back to Tranquility Bay. So great to stop for a cold cold drink and the view…

Have a great day and watch out for turtles!