Mackay & District Turtle Watch volunteer, Valda, had another big season at Lamberts and North Harbour Beaches over the 2019/2020 nesting period.
With the help of Steve Fisher and family, and a few other local beach goers, Valda recorded great results for Lamberts and North Harbour beaches. Unfortunately for Valda, the Lamberts beach reclamation work has proven to be problematic for successful nesting. It was therefore decided at the start of the season to relocate all nests from Lamberts Beach to North Harbour Beach, which added to the workload. But Valda put her best foot forward and shoulder to the wheel, (or tree as it turned out), and finished the season still smiling.
In total eight nests had to be relocated due to the vulnerability and condition of Lamberts Beach. For example, nests were laid in walking tracks, or were vulnerable to inundation at high tide.
At North Harbour Beach a total of 26 nests (24 of which were excavated after hatching and success rates counted) and 40 tracks were recorded. The total number of emerged hatchlings from both beaches this year is 1441.
In even bigger news, a loggerhead turtle nested! In the Mackay region, a loggerhead nesting is very exciting as we are at the northern end of their distribution and don’t often get to see them nesting here. The loggerhead that nested this season is the first recorded nesting here in Mackay in over 20 years.
