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Marine Turtle Conservation Dedicated to the Protection and the Conservation of Endangered Marine Turtles for the last 33 Years! |
~ Newsletter No. 276, February 2025 ~
Hola Volunteers and Supporters –
The Last Nest of the 2024 Season Has Hatched!
Our final nest of the season has hatched, marking the official end of the 2024 nesting cycle! It’s been another incredible season, and our last group of hatchlings has begun their journey into the ocean. Our final batch of beach nests hatched with an impressive 90.1% success rate!
Follow the link HERE to watch Maryel’s video of some of the last hatchlings being released this season.
Our final nest of the season has hatched, marking the official end of the 2024 nesting cycle! It’s been another incredible season, and our last group of hatchlings has begun their journey into the ocean. Our final batch of beach nests hatched with an impressive 90.1% success rate!
Follow the link HERE to watch Maryel’s video of some of the last hatchlings being released this season.
Though the beach may seem quieter in the coming months, we’re working hard to ensure the success of next season. The off-season is a crucial time for us as we focus on:
🔧 ATV & Equipment Maintenance – After months of heavy use, our ATV and gear need repairs and upkeep to ensure we’re ready for the next season.
🏡 Nursery Maintenance – We’ll be dismantling and rebuilding sections of our nursery, making improvements for the next generation of hatchlings. Thanks to the extra thermometers donated last season, we created temperature maps of the nursery and discovered a small hotspot area that we will now be addressing.
📋 Next Season Prep & Permitting – While our 2024 permit remains valid until mid-2025, we’re already refining our protocols and ensuring everything is in place for another successful year.
📊 Deep Dives into Data – This is when we analyze nesting data from the past season. Studying trends in nest success rates, hatchling survival, and environmental conditions helps us make informed conservation decisions.
🎓 Educational Outreach – Local schools visit us to learn about sea turtle conservation firsthand, and we’re planning more interactive programs to engage students and visitors throughout the year. By sharing our work, we hope to inspire the next generation of conservationists!
We’re also excited to announce that we’ll be participating in this year’s Environmental Fair hosted by Entreamigos on April 9th from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Plaza del Sol. Stop by to learn more about our conservation efforts and how you can get involved!
🔧 ATV & Equipment Maintenance – After months of heavy use, our ATV and gear need repairs and upkeep to ensure we’re ready for the next season.
🏡 Nursery Maintenance – We’ll be dismantling and rebuilding sections of our nursery, making improvements for the next generation of hatchlings. Thanks to the extra thermometers donated last season, we created temperature maps of the nursery and discovered a small hotspot area that we will now be addressing.
📋 Next Season Prep & Permitting – While our 2024 permit remains valid until mid-2025, we’re already refining our protocols and ensuring everything is in place for another successful year.
📊 Deep Dives into Data – This is when we analyze nesting data from the past season. Studying trends in nest success rates, hatchling survival, and environmental conditions helps us make informed conservation decisions.
🎓 Educational Outreach – Local schools visit us to learn about sea turtle conservation firsthand, and we’re planning more interactive programs to engage students and visitors throughout the year. By sharing our work, we hope to inspire the next generation of conservationists!
We’re also excited to announce that we’ll be participating in this year’s Environmental Fair hosted by Entreamigos on April 9th from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Plaza del Sol. Stop by to learn more about our conservation efforts and how you can get involved!
Looking Ahead: Our 2025 Volunteer Team
We are excited to announce our confirmed volunteers for the 2025 season! These dedicated individuals are traveling from around the world to support sea turtle conservation in San Pancho. Their time, energy, and passion keep our program running.
Confirmed Volunteers:
Lola & Alexander (Washington, USA), Adriana (México) & Kevin (UK), Nicole & Scott (Washington, USA), Kiley & Tyler (Washington, USA), Jacob, Melanie, and Emily (California, USA), Linda (California, USA), and Lucero (México).
We have five more applicants in the process of confirmation!
In addition to welcoming new volunteers, we are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our dedicated local volunteers who give their time and effort year after year. Nick, Ulises, Deanna, Elvia, Karen, Hallie, Odette, and Maryel play a vital role in our conservation work, helping with everything from nest protection and hatchling releases to outreach and education. Their experience and commitment make a huge difference, and we are so fortunate to have them as part of our team!
If you’re interested in joining our team, we still have opportunities available! Reach out to us for more information HERE.
We are excited to announce our confirmed volunteers for the 2025 season! These dedicated individuals are traveling from around the world to support sea turtle conservation in San Pancho. Their time, energy, and passion keep our program running.
Confirmed Volunteers:
Lola & Alexander (Washington, USA), Adriana (México) & Kevin (UK), Nicole & Scott (Washington, USA), Kiley & Tyler (Washington, USA), Jacob, Melanie, and Emily (California, USA), Linda (California, USA), and Lucero (México).
We have five more applicants in the process of confirmation!
In addition to welcoming new volunteers, we are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our dedicated local volunteers who give their time and effort year after year. Nick, Ulises, Deanna, Elvia, Karen, Hallie, Odette, and Maryel play a vital role in our conservation work, helping with everything from nest protection and hatchling releases to outreach and education. Their experience and commitment make a huge difference, and we are so fortunate to have them as part of our team!
If you’re interested in joining our team, we still have opportunities available! Reach out to us for more information HERE.
Erosion & Accretion Study: Tracking Changes in Our Beach
Understanding how our coastline shifts over time is critical for protecting sea turtle nesting habitats. Our ongoing erosion and accretion study helps document seasonal and long-term changes in beach structure, guiding conservation efforts.
Over the past three months, our study has revealed that certain sections of the beach have lost up to two inches of sand, while others have gained approximately 1.2 inches—a total range of 3.2 inches.
Even minor shifts in beach elevation can significantly impact nesting success. Erosion can expose or wash away eggs, while sand accumulation may alter nest temperatures, influencing hatchling development. Additionally, these changes can reshape the beach, making it less suitable for nesting. Erosion could create steeper slopes, reducing nesting success, while accretion could form new, more sheltered nesting areas.
Understanding these patterns is crucial for guiding conservation efforts. As we continue our study, we hope to gain deeper insights into how coastal changes affect our turtles. Thank you to our volunteers for collecting and analyzing this important data!
Understanding how our coastline shifts over time is critical for protecting sea turtle nesting habitats. Our ongoing erosion and accretion study helps document seasonal and long-term changes in beach structure, guiding conservation efforts.
Over the past three months, our study has revealed that certain sections of the beach have lost up to two inches of sand, while others have gained approximately 1.2 inches—a total range of 3.2 inches.
Even minor shifts in beach elevation can significantly impact nesting success. Erosion can expose or wash away eggs, while sand accumulation may alter nest temperatures, influencing hatchling development. Additionally, these changes can reshape the beach, making it less suitable for nesting. Erosion could create steeper slopes, reducing nesting success, while accretion could form new, more sheltered nesting areas.
Understanding these patterns is crucial for guiding conservation efforts. As we continue our study, we hope to gain deeper insights into how coastal changes affect our turtles. Thank you to our volunteers for collecting and analyzing this important data!
Lights, Camera, Conservation: A Documentary in the Making
Alina Beynun is a graduate student studying Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. For her capstone project, she is making a documentary about the conservation efforts of Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, aiming to raise awareness and encourage involvement in the conservation of the sea turtles of San Pancho.
In December, she spent a week with us filming and following our team at the turtle camp and during turtle releases, gaining valuable insight into the daily work we do. She will return to San Pancho at the end of March, hoping to film an exclusive interview with our founder, Frank Smith, which will be included in her documentary.
Alina’s documentary will be released in June, so stay tuned for more details on how you can watch and get involved.
Alina Beynun is a graduate student studying Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. For her capstone project, she is making a documentary about the conservation efforts of Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, aiming to raise awareness and encourage involvement in the conservation of the sea turtles of San Pancho.
In December, she spent a week with us filming and following our team at the turtle camp and during turtle releases, gaining valuable insight into the daily work we do. She will return to San Pancho at the end of March, hoping to film an exclusive interview with our founder, Frank Smith, which will be included in her documentary.
Alina’s documentary will be released in June, so stay tuned for more details on how you can watch and get involved.
Support Us: New Ways to Give!
Your generosity keeps our program going, and we now have more ways to support our work:
✅ Amazon Wishlist – We’ve created wish lists on Amazon USA and Amazon Mexico with essential items we need to keep our program running. Check them out: Amazon USA & Amazon Mexico!
✅ Venmo – We now accept Venmo for donations, making it easier than ever to contribute. You can find us at @GrupoEco.
Thank you for helping us protect sea turtles!
Your generosity keeps our program going, and we now have more ways to support our work:
✅ Amazon Wishlist – We’ve created wish lists on Amazon USA and Amazon Mexico with essential items we need to keep our program running. Check them out: Amazon USA & Amazon Mexico!
✅ Venmo – We now accept Venmo for donations, making it easier than ever to contribute. You can find us at @GrupoEco.
Thank you for helping us protect sea turtles!
Thank You, Odette, Deanna, and Elvia!
A huge thank you to Odette and Deanna for representing us at the San Pancho Music Festival and raising funds to support our conservation efforts! Their dedication and enthusiasm helped spread awareness about our work while securing much-needed support for our program.
We’re also incredibly grateful to Elvia for helping us secure the space at the festival. Your support behind the scenes made this possible, and we truly appreciate it!
A huge thank you to Odette and Deanna for representing us at the San Pancho Music Festival and raising funds to support our conservation efforts! Their dedication and enthusiasm helped spread awareness about our work while securing much-needed support for our program.
We’re also incredibly grateful to Elvia for helping us secure the space at the festival. Your support behind the scenes made this possible, and we truly appreciate it!
Thank You, February Donors!
We are deeply grateful to our February donors for your generosity and continued support: Bob Cole, Fay Chan, Claudia Kroberger, Caren Elkan, Brian Culligan, and Travler, Inc.
A special thank you to Angie Stahl for donating her creative talents and supplies to transform our new donation box, and to Dave Schmidt for repairing the locking mechanism to keep it safe and functional.
We also want to express our gratitude to Karen Sorem and Hallie Loveridge for their hard work on ATV improvements and for donating essential parts. Their efforts are helping us run smoothly, ensuring we can continue patrolling the beach and protecting sea turtle nests efficiently.
Your support means the world to us!
We are deeply grateful to our February donors for your generosity and continued support: Bob Cole, Fay Chan, Claudia Kroberger, Caren Elkan, Brian Culligan, and Travler, Inc.
A special thank you to Angie Stahl for donating her creative talents and supplies to transform our new donation box, and to Dave Schmidt for repairing the locking mechanism to keep it safe and functional.
We also want to express our gratitude to Karen Sorem and Hallie Loveridge for their hard work on ATV improvements and for donating essential parts. Their efforts are helping us run smoothly, ensuring we can continue patrolling the beach and protecting sea turtle nests efficiently.
Your support means the world to us!
Winter Rentals: Stay With Us & Support Conservation
Looking for a cozy getaway? We have winter rental availability, and 100% of proceeds go directly toward saving sea turtles! Staying with us helps fund vital supplies, equipment, and conservation efforts.
For details, contact Nick via WhatsApp: +52 322 154 0077.
Looking for a cozy getaway? We have winter rental availability, and 100% of proceeds go directly toward saving sea turtles! Staying with us helps fund vital supplies, equipment, and conservation efforts.
For details, contact Nick via WhatsApp: +52 322 154 0077.
Frank's Weather-Wise Update
Temperatures during the day were in the mid 70’s°, while nighttime temps were in the mid to low 60s°, cloudy warm days but unusually cold nights. There was 0.01 inches of rain in February, and for the year the rainfall came to 0.01 inches.
Temperatures during the day were in the mid 70’s°, while nighttime temps were in the mid to low 60s°, cloudy warm days but unusually cold nights. There was 0.01 inches of rain in February, and for the year the rainfall came to 0.01 inches.
Follow Us
If you’re looking to stay updated on our future work and impact, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
As always, we’re grateful for our community of volunteers, donors, and supporters. Let’s keep working together to protect these incredible sea turtles!
If you’re looking to stay updated on our future work and impact, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
As always, we’re grateful for our community of volunteers, donors, and supporters. Let’s keep working together to protect these incredible sea turtles!
Jessica Schmidt, Director
Frank Smith, Technical Advisor
Elvia García, Secretary
Karen Sorum, Treasurer
Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C.
Our email addresses are: [email protected]
and [email protected]
Our website is: https://www.project-tortuga.org/
Our Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/projecttortugasanpancho/
For new volunteers: https://www.project-tortuga.org/handbook.html
Our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectTortuga
Contributions: https://www.project-tortuga.org/contribute.html
Adopt A Nest: https://www.project-tortuga.org/adopt-a-nest.html
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Please Note that we work at Night so Morning Calls May be Missed.
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Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde
102 America Latina, San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico Tel: +1 262 497 6671 Email: [email protected] [email protected] |