~  Newsletter No. 220, May, 2020 ~

Hola Volunteers and Supporters, it has been a busy month here at the Turtle project, here is a rundown of everything that has happened! ~

Turtle wise:  Joslin has been collecting and relocating what few nests she could find, and tending to the hatching.  In the third week of May about five dead turtles washed ashore, since they were mostly badly decayed they may have drifted out of the south, and not off our shore.
 
The beach is totally of-limits 24/7 except for burying dead turtles, releasing hatchlings and flowers for Coyote.  At this point in time we are not sure if can operate a marine turtle program this year, or even be allowed to drive the dune buggy on the beach at night.  Never the less there are several other ways we can stop poaching (the only real reason for being on the beach at night)

• Best-case-scenario, the chance that a vaccine is discovered and/or pandemic comes to an end.
• If not, we can ask the police and authorities to crack-down on poaching.  A case in mind, several boys decided to go surfing despite being prohibited by law during the pandemic.  They were quickly arrested, fined 700 pesos each and placed in jail.  If the police and authorities can do this to surfers they can do the same to poachers, and we may not have any need to be on the beach at night.
• Or if that’s not going to work, we can construct a 20 foot wide palm fronds drag to pull behind the buggy.  It would wipe-out all adult turtles tracks, but not harm the hatchlings.  It can be operated by one, maybe two volunteers in three shifts each night.
• And/or, nests could be dug up and relocated by two volunteers (one digging them up and the other planting) working 50 feet apart in three shifts each, with or without the buggy
• If the pandemic is still raging by July, placing nests in boxes may be too dangerous to have volunteers working close together.

 
With no tourist/visitors in town we are left with little means of collecting donations or selling T-shirts.  We must rely on PayPal as the only means of carry out that task for us.  Over the past two months we have received several donation and would like to thank each contributor for their help:
Amanda Sinker, Coffee Real, Jack Bischoff, Jenifer Nelsen (3), Karen Hope (3), and Teresa Reid.  Also we would to thank Daniel Meilhan for making all our face mask.
 
After many weeks of work the dune buggy is back in service again.  Despite the difficultly of some repair jobs i.e. the muffler and welding, the buggy is in far better shape than before the accident.  The last repair job is the left rear fender, it may also be difficult job (See image below) We got the buggy fired-up on May 27th.
 
April’s Volunteers:  Manuel Murrieta, and Joslin Carson, Julio Gonzales and America Rios Tejas, Juan Flores and family, Karen Sorum and Hallie Loveridge.
 
Weather-wise:  Daytime temperatures were in the low to mid 80°, while night time temps were in the low to mid 70°.  No rain in May, the total rainfall for the year came to 8.10 inches.  Humidity has been between the mid 60% to the low 90% mostly at night.  Although it looks as if early thunderstorms and rain is on the horizon.
 
The Coronavirus is on a sharp rising sharply in México.  What is strange .49% of all cases are within the States of México, including México City, and Northern Baja, perhaps, Mexicali-Tijuana.  Nayarit, including four other States at the bottom of the list have a caseload of 0.02 of all cases in México, and two cases in San Pancho hospital, one recovered and other died.
 
I am not happy that the filtering at our bridge has stopped, keep in mind that a second wave or spike is not caused by the virus, it is caused by human negligence.
 
Don’t get caught-off-guard, the worst of the pandemic has not arrived yet and you need to protect your family and neighbors,

• The virus is spread by coughing, sneezing, yelling, crying, singing or likewise.  All of which (if infected) will cause millions of virus laden droplets to spread through the air.  you are not protecting others or yourself if you’re not wearing a good face mask especially outside your home.
• The distance of six feet is only a minimum distance from others, the safest distance is as far from other people as possible.
• Wash your hands as often as possible, and keep your hands off your face.
• The virus falls to the surface so leave your shoes outside the house.
• It’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.

From Patricia Perez-Arce last paragraph of her newsletter, to help contact her at kikiscalabaza@gmail.com

“The town is pretty quiet. The main beach has been deserted during the day, and people do go to watch the sunset many in small groups. The police can be seen checking the beach in the early afternoon, but that’s about all. A number of popular restaurants are open for take-out food only which can be delivered, e.g., Maria’s, Barracuda, Mr. Ribs. It is one way of supporting restaurants and some of their workers. This week I want to express our gratitude to all the businesses that have stayed open, and their employees, who continue to serve the community while placing themselves at risk of contagion: fresh fruits and vegetable markets, mini super markets, tortillerías, cafés, delivery people, those who pick up our garbage, handymen, those who work on our constructions, gasoline stations, hospital workers, pharmacists, the mayor, those who repair leaks in the water, etc. These are people we know and take for granted because they’ve always been there, but we’re not in normal times and they are still there. We tip generously to express our gratitude, whether at shops, take-out restaurants, or workers out and about. Thank you all!  Be well and stay safe. WE ARE ONE Community and support one another!”

These four websites that can give you an ideas of what the virus is up to:
For all countries
For all countries 2
For Mexico
For the USA
For Canada

Frank Smith
Director.
Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C.
http://www.project-tortuga.org
Tel. 311-258-4100

Come Visit our Turtle Nursery!

Call in advance so we can prepare for your visit!
Please Note that we work at Night so Morning Calls May be Missed.

Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde
102 America Latina,
San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico
Tel: 311-258-4100
Email: projecttortuga@gmail.com
grupo-eco@project-tortuga.org