38 • Outlook 2021
N.E.S.T. volunteers: Protecting sea turtles for over 25 years by Summer Stevens It’s just past sunrise when the ATVs begin their slow trek along the quiet beaches of the Outer Banks, volunteers scanning the shoreline for the delicate sea turtle nests that appear in late spring and into the summer. Though the rental houses are packed, there’s only a few early risers on the beach at this time in the morning, not enough to obscure the turtle crawls, which look like tractor tire tracks in the sand. The driver slows and spots evidence of a nest. He peers into a depression in the sand about twenty inches deep, gently brushing away the sand to reveal dozens of small white eggs. Sea turtles lay between 100 and 120 eggs every two to three years, laying three to four clutches of eggs in a season. The mother sea turtle is nowhere to be seen. A healthy adult sea turtle only comes ashore to lay her eggs, then retreats back into the ocean, leaving her tiny offspring to fend for themselves.
There are many dangers facing the ping pong ball size eggs. Sea turtle nests are vulnerable to predators like birds, ghost crabs, dogs and foxes. Ocean overwash can destroy the nests. Light pollution also affects the hatchlings, who naturally head toward the brightest horizon. Artificial light can confuse them and make it difficult to reach the ocean. So in 1995, the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) was founded by Millie Overman, with the purpose of protecting sea turtles from the Virginia line to south Nags Head. According to the organization’s website (www.nestonline.org), “N.E.S.T. is committed to contributing to the preservation of these species through research and rescue and rehabilitation efforts and to fostering greater understanding and appreciation of these species and their hab-
Photos courtesy of N.E.S.T.
itat through education and enhanced public awareness.” N.E.S.T. is an all-volunteer organization, with 300 people currently serving in areas including ATV nesting patrols, nesting response, nest sitting, stranding response, rehabilit at i o n ,
