Turtle nest excavated

Volunteers with the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project excavated a loggerhead nest on the beach strand near Public Beach Access No. 35 the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 18, while a brief drizzle produced a vivid rainbow over the Atlantic. Nest excavations are completed according to state protocol to count the number of empty eggshells three days after a nest hatches, revealing how many hatchlings emerged, and to free any turtles that remain inside the nest chamber. Project coordinator Nancy Fahey and volunteers excavated 59 empty eggshells and five unhatched eggs. No hatchlings remained in the nest chamber. ~ Emmy Errante and Susan Miller