~  Newsletter No. 261,  November,  2023 ~

Hola Volunteers and Supporters 

In mid-November we received news that a Leatherback nest had been found on Playa Questo, (the beach South of San Pancho.)  The nest is safe, although it was opened down to the top of the eggs.  Opening any marine turtle nest is not a good idea because it softens the sand and slows down the transfer of heat from the surface to the eggs.  The Leatherback mother compacts the sand with 1,000 pounds of pressure to ensure the transfer of heat and to keep parasites from destroying the eggs.
 
To date we have recorded over 1,117 nests, 680 nests were placed within the box nursery, 598 left on the beach in better locations, and 39 were taking be poachers.  To date the total number of hatchlings released to the sea came to 71,504 far fewer than we had hoped for, but remember, saving any nest from the hands of the sticky-fingered of the poacher is why we’re doing this work in the first place.
 
Not content with their own small beach nursery, J.C. and her band of followers are constantly digging up many of the Group’s 400 relocated nests, all in a reckless quest to find hatchlings.  If digging up our nests was not bad enough, they irresponsibly leaving a trail of open nest holes and scattering egg and shells in all directions.  Several people have witnesses and documented this act, although she will say its dogs.
 
In nature, what is left in a nest remains under the sand, and will decompose in time.  The act of scattered nests shells, dead and sterile eggs will definitely attract birds, dogs and parasites to other nests within the area.  Dogs will also become familiar with the nesting area, which could lead to increased predation in the future. 
 
Our Friday sunset hatchling releases in front of the Beach Club and/or Las Olas community has become an enormous success.  The release is organized by volunteers Elvia Garcia, Odette Brunel, Susana Ayón, Ulises Ledesma González, Deanna Covington, and Blanca G.  (See image below.)   Although we are about a month away from the end of the nesting season, and by January there will be no hatchlings to release, or any marine turtle activities at the nursery.
 
We have only one apartment for rent from December to May.  This apartment is fully furnished, with all utilities paid, including telephone, high-speed fiber optic internet and including all appliances.  It is located in a relatively quiet area near Los Olas.  The rent for apartment one is $1,200 per month.




  

 



A good way financially helping Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde is through our 501-C-3 tax deduction donation site.  To donate to you can contact Travler, a US charity that has supported Grupo Ecológico for several years. Click on this link to make a tax-deductible contribution to help us.
 
October volunteers and staff:  Steve Raschke, Elvia Garcia, Jessica Schmidt, Karen Sorum, Nick Sanders, Odette Brunel, Taylor Kimbell, Dionna Buttler, Patrick Becker, Susana Ayón, Ulises Ledesma González, Deanna Covington, Rickey Burke and Susan Stephens, and Blanca G.   If you or someone you know is interested in helping in the 2024 nesting season, you can join us by going to our Volunteer application page, and please spread the word about our volunteering opportunity.
  
Weather-wise: November daytime temperatures range in the mid-80° to mid-70°, while nighttime temps are mid to high-70° to mid-60°.  November rainfall was 1.39 inches, and for the year the amount came to 42.79 inches.
 
We need your help.  In October, we received donations from: Ana Cosio, Susan Stephens, Jennifer Nelsen, Sara Finnegan-Doyon, A wonderful donation from Stacy Olson, Patricia Schmidt, and Karen Wilson.   Our working capital is at an all-time low, perhaps due to two years of hyperinflation.  Please help us if you can by contributing at our PayPal link.
 
Town and Country wise:  Sadly, this year there was no end-of-the-season celebration.  Throughout the month our beach was packed with tourist to the point that trying to reach it to reach the beach by vehicle to release hatchlings and dump used sand had become increasingly difficult.

Frank Smith, Director,
Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C.
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.project-tortuga.org
Facebook page: San Pancho Marine Turtle Project
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projecttortugasanpancho/
Tel. 311 258 4100

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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: [email protected]
[email protected]