Newsletter No.  225,  October,  2020  ~  Grupo Ecológico


Hola Volunteers and Supporters ~

Turtle wise:  Total number of nests recorded this season comes to 940, which makes this season the sixth largest season out of 30 years.  The number of nests recorded in October came to 227, while the poachers made off with about 4.5%.

Something different for the first time, on October 28th and 29th a wall of sand about 4 to 6 feet high stretching from the rocks on both ends of the beach blocked turtles pathway to their nesting beach.  By the 30th the wall was collapsing.  

All the good news: most the nests were relocated and are hatching around 90%.  The volunteers few in numbers due to the pandemic are able to keep up despite being the sixth largest season.  The dune buggy is up and running in excellent shape.  And the tons of floating debris on the beach is being slowly removed.

Just a reminder again, Grupo Ecológico does not maintain an official Facebook account, although if you wish to make any comments or suggestions regarding our marine turtle program you can reach us by E-mail or phone only at grupo-eco@project-tortuga.org or go to our website project-tortuga.org on the Home page go to the message box at the bottom. 

September Volunteers:  Karen Sorum and Hallie Loveridge, Juan Flores  and family, Taylor Kimbell, Yanick Uirick, Esteban Millard, Michelle Breinholt and Nancy Krivick.

Unfortunately because of the pandemic we are not able to host visitors within the nursery facility, which leaves us without a good means of selling T-shirts or raising donations.  We must depend on PayPal as the only way of achieving that goal.  

Throughout September we received many donations and would like to thank each contributor for their help:   Jack and Franny Bischof, McCann & Sons, Karen Hope, Caren Elkan, James Ewing, Jennifer Nelsen, Ronald Walsh and Shari Margolin.

It is vital that members of the community and tourists alike help us protect the hatchlings during the hot dry daylight hours.  If you see any hatchlings on hot dry sand or being attacked by birds move them down to the cool damp sand and stay with them until they enter the sea, but don’t bring them to the nursery.

Weather-wise:  Temperatures during the day were in the mid to high 80° to low 90°, while night time temps were in the low to mid 70°.  We received 3.43 inches of rain in October, the total rainfall for the year came to 56.29 inches.   Over the past two and half years there has been very little to no tropical storm activity.

Please help us.  House lights that reach the beach is a serious problem that confuses both hatchlings and adult turtles and can lead to their death.  If you own a house that has lights that face the beach, tell your renters to keep their outside lights off after 10 PM.  Marine turtle are attracted to light and will turn away from the sea and head inland.

Don’t drop-your-guard the pandemic is not over by a long shot, and you need to protect yourself, your family and others. The virus is not responsible for a spike in cases, which we are seeing in all States.  The spike is totally caused by human carelessness and nothing else.  Below are several tips on how to stay safe.
  • The virus is primarily spread by fine droplets from the mouth or nose, if you cough, sneeze, or crying, singing, shouting, or boisterous you can, if infected spread the virus like wildfire.  if possible keep your voice low and always use a handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.
  • You are not protecting yourself and others if you’re not wearing a good face mask.  Important, if you can blowout a small flame through the mask, it is no good and not protecting you, purchase a good one.
  • The minimum distance from others is six feet, although this is only a minimum safe distance, as far from others as possible is considerably better.  Although when talking to others have the wind or breeze at your back.
  • Wash your hands as often as possible, and keep your hands off your face.
  • When shopping or visiting others wear some sort eye protection along with a facemask.
  • The virus falls to the surface so leave your shoes outside the house.
  • For recreation or hiking, keep your trips to unpopulated areas, a wild areas.
  • It is a good idea to limit your trips, especially to public indoor gatherings, consider them to be extremely dangerous.
  • To help your immune system try vitamin C, D3 Zinc and lot of good sleep. (Take Vitamin D3 in the morning.)

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

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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