|
Marine Turtle Conservation Dedicated to the Protection and the Conservation of Endangered Marine Turtles for the last 33 Years! |
~ Newsletter No. 279, May 2025 ~
Hola Volunteers and Supporters –
Kicking Off Turtle Season!
The 2025 nesting season has officially begun, and we’re off to an exciting start! Our beach patrols are underway, and we’ve already had our very first nest—laid in daylight, no less! A rare treat, and such a perfect opportunity to train our new staff.
We’re thrilled to welcome a wonderful group of new staff members this season:
Adriana Pliego (México), Alex Sage and Lola Tiffany (USA), KC Wilkerson (USA), Cat Reed (USA), Craig Nottage (UK), Josefina Torres (Chile), Natalia Ximenez (Uruguay), Jen Teal (México), and Travis Laurendine (USA). We also have our first June volunteers, shout out to: Crystal Mayes (Canada), and Jody and Brad Gorski (Canada).
It’s a joy to begin the season surrounded by such committed, kind, and hard-working people. We’re so grateful to have you all here.
We also want to give a warm welcome to our local and returning volunteers:
Nick Sanders (UK), Hallie Loveridge and Karen Sorem (USA), Dee Covington (USA), Trish Schmidt (USA), Odette Brunel (México), Ulises Ledesma González (México), Maryel Noé (México), Elvia Garica (México) and Steve Raschke (USA).
Your continued support and presence mean the world to us, and we’re so glad to have you back on the beach.
We still have volunteer openings until October! If you're interested in joining us or want to learn more, click the link HERE.
The 2025 nesting season has officially begun, and we’re off to an exciting start! Our beach patrols are underway, and we’ve already had our very first nest—laid in daylight, no less! A rare treat, and such a perfect opportunity to train our new staff.
We’re thrilled to welcome a wonderful group of new staff members this season:
Adriana Pliego (México), Alex Sage and Lola Tiffany (USA), KC Wilkerson (USA), Cat Reed (USA), Craig Nottage (UK), Josefina Torres (Chile), Natalia Ximenez (Uruguay), Jen Teal (México), and Travis Laurendine (USA). We also have our first June volunteers, shout out to: Crystal Mayes (Canada), and Jody and Brad Gorski (Canada).
It’s a joy to begin the season surrounded by such committed, kind, and hard-working people. We’re so grateful to have you all here.
We also want to give a warm welcome to our local and returning volunteers:
Nick Sanders (UK), Hallie Loveridge and Karen Sorem (USA), Dee Covington (USA), Trish Schmidt (USA), Odette Brunel (México), Ulises Ledesma González (México), Maryel Noé (México), Elvia Garica (México) and Steve Raschke (USA).
Your continued support and presence mean the world to us, and we’re so glad to have you back on the beach.
We still have volunteer openings until October! If you're interested in joining us or want to learn more, click the link HERE.
Nursery Prep in Full Swing
Behind the scenes, a lot of prep work has been happening. We’ve replaced all of the termite-damaged wood in the nursery and have started patching the walls where the supports were replaced. Every year our nest buckets take a beating—handles pop off from wear and tear, and we do our best to fix and reinforce them for another season. This year, we’re reinforcing every single one from the start to give ourselves the best shot.
We’re especially excited for our upcoming electrical upgrade! An electrician is coming to rewire the nursery and install a dedicated breaker box. The current voltage fluctuations have been hard on our equipment—burning out fans and heaters, and in some cases, even giving mild shocks. This is a huge step forward for the safety and stability of our setup.
Our nest boxes are next in line for reinforcement, and we’re getting them ready now!
Click HERE to see our nursery rebuild in action and watch the transformation unfold!
Behind the scenes, a lot of prep work has been happening. We’ve replaced all of the termite-damaged wood in the nursery and have started patching the walls where the supports were replaced. Every year our nest buckets take a beating—handles pop off from wear and tear, and we do our best to fix and reinforce them for another season. This year, we’re reinforcing every single one from the start to give ourselves the best shot.
We’re especially excited for our upcoming electrical upgrade! An electrician is coming to rewire the nursery and install a dedicated breaker box. The current voltage fluctuations have been hard on our equipment—burning out fans and heaters, and in some cases, even giving mild shocks. This is a huge step forward for the safety and stability of our setup.
Our nest boxes are next in line for reinforcement, and we’re getting them ready now!
Click HERE to see our nursery rebuild in action and watch the transformation unfold!
Early Nest Strategy
To start the season, we’re either leaving nests in situ (where the turtles laid them) or relocating them temporarily to safe areas on the natural beach. None of the early nests are being placed in the greenhouse nursery yet.
This approach is intentional; we wait until nesting is occurring at a rate to fill the nursery in a way that quickly creates thermal mass. Thermal mass helps stabilize nest temperatures, which is essential for proper embryo development. By holding off on using the greenhouse nursery until conditions are right, we give the eggs the best chance to thrive.
Relocating early nests to safe zones on the beach also supports our long-term study of erosion and accretion. Tracking how both in situ and relocated nests fare in different areas provides valuable insights into how the beach is changing and where nests are safest over time.
To start the season, we’re either leaving nests in situ (where the turtles laid them) or relocating them temporarily to safe areas on the natural beach. None of the early nests are being placed in the greenhouse nursery yet.
This approach is intentional; we wait until nesting is occurring at a rate to fill the nursery in a way that quickly creates thermal mass. Thermal mass helps stabilize nest temperatures, which is essential for proper embryo development. By holding off on using the greenhouse nursery until conditions are right, we give the eggs the best chance to thrive.
Relocating early nests to safe zones on the beach also supports our long-term study of erosion and accretion. Tracking how both in situ and relocated nests fare in different areas provides valuable insights into how the beach is changing and where nests are safest over time.
Honoring Frank’s Legacy
We’re incredibly grateful for the decades of wisdom and experience that Frank D. Smith has shared with our team. Over the past 30 years, his dedication and perseverance helped rescue and rebuild San Pancho’s turtle population. Without that work, it’s very possible there would be no turtles left here to protect.
Frank’s unmatched knowledge of our local turtle population, gathered across thousands of nights on the beach, has been generously passed down. His legacy continues to shape everything we do. We are forever indebted to the time, energy, and passion he’s poured into this program alongside so many volunteers from around the world.
We still turn to Frank for each Weatherwise update - he continues to collect data daily from the weather station on his rooftop, just as he always has.
We’re incredibly grateful for the decades of wisdom and experience that Frank D. Smith has shared with our team. Over the past 30 years, his dedication and perseverance helped rescue and rebuild San Pancho’s turtle population. Without that work, it’s very possible there would be no turtles left here to protect.
Frank’s unmatched knowledge of our local turtle population, gathered across thousands of nights on the beach, has been generously passed down. His legacy continues to shape everything we do. We are forever indebted to the time, energy, and passion he’s poured into this program alongside so many volunteers from around the world.
We still turn to Frank for each Weatherwise update - he continues to collect data daily from the weather station on his rooftop, just as he always has.
Clean Before the Rains – Riverbed Cleanup
Before the rains begin to wash garbage from the streets to the sea, Elvia is organizing cleanups of the local riverbed. It’s a crucial moment to stop plastic and waste from reaching the ocean—and every set of hands helps!
🗓 Fridays at 8:30am, June: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th & July: 4th, 11th.
📍 Meetup location changes weekly
Contact Elvia for more info via WhatsApp: +52 322 117 1950
Please join us in supporting this community effort to protect our coastline. Photo credits by @camden.howitt
Before the rains begin to wash garbage from the streets to the sea, Elvia is organizing cleanups of the local riverbed. It’s a crucial moment to stop plastic and waste from reaching the ocean—and every set of hands helps!
🗓 Fridays at 8:30am, June: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th & July: 4th, 11th.
📍 Meetup location changes weekly
Contact Elvia for more info via WhatsApp: +52 322 117 1950
Please join us in supporting this community effort to protect our coastline. Photo credits by @camden.howitt
Join Us for Sea Turtle Week!
We’re so excited to celebrate Sea Turtle Week with the community, and for the very first time, we’re partnering with Entreamigos for World Ocean Day to make it even more special!
We’ll be participating in the following events:
📆 Sunday, June 8 – Topic: World Ocean Day
📍 On the beach in front of Las Palmas
A day to celebrate and protect our oceans with hands-on activities for all ages.
📆 Wednesday, June 11 – Topics: Olive Ridley Day & Consumption
📍 At Plaza del Sol (tentative)
We’ll explore San Pancho’s most frequent nesting species and what we can do to reduce our impact.
📆 Saturday, June 14 – Topics: Green Sea Turtle Day & Climate Change
📍 At Casa Tortuga (tentative)
Join us for conversations and creative projects centered on protecting turtles in a changing climate. We’re also hoping to share the premiere of Alina’s short documentary about our group on this final day. She’s been working hard to capture the heart of what we do, and we can’t wait to celebrate her vision with all of you.
Due to a large Father's day event planned at the plaza on Saturday, our original Wednesday and Saturday locations have been swapped, as reflected above. Please stay tuned to our social media for final confirmation.
We’ll have activities, talks, and opportunities to get involved throughout the week. Stay tuned for more details—we’d love to see you there!
We’re so excited to celebrate Sea Turtle Week with the community, and for the very first time, we’re partnering with Entreamigos for World Ocean Day to make it even more special!
We’ll be participating in the following events:
📆 Sunday, June 8 – Topic: World Ocean Day
📍 On the beach in front of Las Palmas
A day to celebrate and protect our oceans with hands-on activities for all ages.
📆 Wednesday, June 11 – Topics: Olive Ridley Day & Consumption
📍 At Plaza del Sol (tentative)
We’ll explore San Pancho’s most frequent nesting species and what we can do to reduce our impact.
📆 Saturday, June 14 – Topics: Green Sea Turtle Day & Climate Change
📍 At Casa Tortuga (tentative)
Join us for conversations and creative projects centered on protecting turtles in a changing climate. We’re also hoping to share the premiere of Alina’s short documentary about our group on this final day. She’s been working hard to capture the heart of what we do, and we can’t wait to celebrate her vision with all of you.
Due to a large Father's day event planned at the plaza on Saturday, our original Wednesday and Saturday locations have been swapped, as reflected above. Please stay tuned to our social media for final confirmation.
We’ll have activities, talks, and opportunities to get involved throughout the week. Stay tuned for more details—we’d love to see you there!
💛 A Nest for Father’s Day
Looking for a meaningful Father’s Day gift?
This year, honor a dad in your life by adopting a sea turtle nest in his name. It’s a unique way to support conservation while celebrating someone who’s made a difference in your world. Adoptions include a digital certificate and updates about the hatchlings you helped protect.
👉 [Click here to adopt a nest or learn more]
Looking for a meaningful Father’s Day gift?
This year, honor a dad in your life by adopting a sea turtle nest in his name. It’s a unique way to support conservation while celebrating someone who’s made a difference in your world. Adoptions include a digital certificate and updates about the hatchlings you helped protect.
👉 [Click here to adopt a nest or learn more]
Thank You to Our Donors
To all our monthly donors—thank you for your continued support. You are the backbone of our work.
Special thanks this month to: Bob Cole, Fay Chan, Claudia Kroberger, Cat Reed and Kenichi Shoji, and Andrew Hunter.
The initial setup of the season always has quite a few expenses associated with it. This month donations were used for: ATV maintenance and gas, the down payment for supplies for the electrician, tarps, Gorilla Tape (the only kind we can use on the nursery), strapping tape, flagging tape, hatchling baskets, saw blades, A LOT of paint for nest stakes and the nursery, screws, nails, a new surveyor's measuring tape, lanyards & ID pouches, PVC tubing, printing of IDs, flyers, educational materials, replacement wood for the nursery, batteries, flashlights, and much more. We couldn’t do this without you.
To all our monthly donors—thank you for your continued support. You are the backbone of our work.
Special thanks this month to: Bob Cole, Fay Chan, Claudia Kroberger, Cat Reed and Kenichi Shoji, and Andrew Hunter.
The initial setup of the season always has quite a few expenses associated with it. This month donations were used for: ATV maintenance and gas, the down payment for supplies for the electrician, tarps, Gorilla Tape (the only kind we can use on the nursery), strapping tape, flagging tape, hatchling baskets, saw blades, A LOT of paint for nest stakes and the nursery, screws, nails, a new surveyor's measuring tape, lanyards & ID pouches, PVC tubing, printing of IDs, flyers, educational materials, replacement wood for the nursery, batteries, flashlights, and much more. We couldn’t do this without you.
Want to Help?
Every contribution helps us continue our mission. Please consider volunteering, donating or checking out our wish lists:
Volunteer Here
Donate via PayPal
Donate via Venmo @GrupoEco
Amazon US Wishlist HERE
Amazon MX Wishlist HERE
We still need (Another ATV!):
• Nest sticks
• Flashlights (both red and regular)
• Buckets
• Baskets
• Clipboards
• Shovels
• Silicone
• Fans
• More Lanyards & ID Pouches
Donors from the U.S. can make a meaningful impact and receive a tax deduction, thanks to our nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status. Thank you to everyone who helps make this work possible!
Every contribution helps us continue our mission. Please consider volunteering, donating or checking out our wish lists:
Volunteer Here
Donate via PayPal
Donate via Venmo @GrupoEco
Amazon US Wishlist HERE
Amazon MX Wishlist HERE
We still need (Another ATV!):
• Nest sticks
• Flashlights (both red and regular)
• Buckets
• Baskets
• Clipboards
• Shovels
• Silicone
• Fans
• More Lanyards & ID Pouches
Donors from the U.S. can make a meaningful impact and receive a tax deduction, thanks to our nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status. Thank you to everyone who helps make this work possible!
Frank’s Weatherwise
May Temperatures during the day were in the mid to high 80's, while nighttime temps were in the mid to high 70’s°. Again, cloudy hot days. 0.09 inches of rain in May, and for the year the rainfall came to 0.17 inches. The first thunder and lightning dropped in on May 30th, but no serious tropical activities were recorded.
May Temperatures during the day were in the mid to high 80's, while nighttime temps were in the mid to high 70’s°. Again, cloudy hot days. 0.09 inches of rain in May, and for the year the rainfall came to 0.17 inches. The first thunder and lightning dropped in on May 30th, but no serious tropical activities were recorded.
Sunset Photo By: Ulises
Follow Us
If you’re looking to stay updated on our future work and impact, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
We're so grateful to have you with us - your support is helping turn the tide for sea turtles, one nest at a time.
If you’re looking to stay updated on our future work and impact, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
We're so grateful to have you with us - your support is helping turn the tide for sea turtles, one nest at a time.
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
Unsubscribe
Visit our PayPal page HERE
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: +1 262 497 6671 Email: [email protected] [email protected] |