November Beachscape - Jekyll Island, GA

Become a Member of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Now, you can belong to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! What a great Christmas gift! Visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org to download a registration form. Online purchasing will be available any day (along with items from the gift shop!)
Individual Membership ($35) Free unlimited admission for named member for one full year 10% discount at Georgia Sea Turtle Center Gift Shop ½ price Turtle and Hatchling Walks Receive the Georgia Sea Turtle Center Newsletter Family Membership ($100) Same as Individual Membership plus: Family memberships provide free admission to 1 member & 3 guests OR 1 household* 10% discount on education programs, including summer camp and birthday parties 4 complimentary passes for Jekyll Island Mini-Golf Donor Membership ($300) Same as Family Membership Plus 6 Guest Passes** Invitation to Members Only events VIP Tour of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for 4 people	Patron Membership ($500) Same as Donor Membership 10 Guest Passes 1 customized Brick for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s Walkway to Wonder Special Recognition on the Georgia Sea Turtle Center website Benefactor Membership ($1,000) Same as Donor Membership 15 Guest Passes 2 customized Bricks for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s Walkway to Wonder Special Recognition on the Georgia Sea Turtle Center website with a link to business or organization website (if appropriate) Lifetime Membership ($5,000) Same as Donor Membership for life of member 15 Guest Passes each year 5 customized Bricks for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s Walkway to Wonder Special Recognition on the Georgia Sea Turtle Center website with a link to business or organization website (if appropriate)
* Household is defined as 1 or 2 adult members and their children or grandchildren under the age of 18. ** Guest passes are good for one free admission.

Cute Sea Turtle Hatchling Update
All nests have hatched. The 2007 nesting and hatching season is complete. Total amount of eggs from all nests combined = 4695 Average incubation period: 58 days Average Hatching Success Rate: 84.80% Average Hatchling Emergence Success Rate: 82.53% 4 nests were washed out completely 15 nests were at least partially predated by: raccoons, ghost crabs, and fire ants. But in once instance by a dog! The green nest’s specific data: Nest #41 Laid 7/22/07, hatched 9/17/07, Found upon excavation: Total eggs=119, Hatched/Emerged: 117, Unhatched eggs: 2 (showed little to no development), Hatching Success Rate: 98.32%, Emergence Success Rate: 98.32%

Education Update
Stories at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center

We doubled our attendance of school groups in October with over 600 School Groups’ students! Two new education programs were started: Turtle Tales, for “Hatchlings” (children ages 2-4) and their parents to come for an hour of turtle-inspired stories and crafts! And the Behind-the-Scenes Tour allows guests to visit food preparation areas, animal holding areas, and the Treatment, X-ray and Surgery Rooms. See the website at www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org for more information.

Visit our booth at the Christmas Tree Lighting festival where we’ll have Turtle Ornaments for the kids to decorate! In December, Santa will make a special visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on the 15th! Visit http://www.jekyllisland.com/holidayisland for more information.

Veterinary Update
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center welcomes Vet externs Shawn Boone and Hollis Stewart. For the past month, the Georgia

Sea Turtle Center has been fortunate enough to have two vet externs working alongside the staff. Shawn Boone and Hollis Stewart, both fourth year students at the University of Georgia, have spent two weeks each training with Dr. Norton in wildlife medicine techniques. During their stay they participated in several surgeries, including the leg amputation of a Florida softshell and the implanting of radio transmitters in Canebreak Rattlesnakes and King Snakes.

Patient Update
We have a new patient of tiny proportions! He (or she) is a hatchling green sea turtle – the first green sea turtle to visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! He came in emaciated and not very active. He was found in Northeast Florida where he was potentially affected by the harmful algae bloom that recently occurred. Although not sure if the algae bloom is the cause of his washing back, what we do know is that he needed a little food and boost of energy. He was given immediate care and is now doing very well. He is eating on his own and gaining weight each day. Although doing well, he appears to be unable to use his back flippers so physical therapy may be an option once he’s more stable. Green sea turtles that nest along Florida and on the Pacific coast of Mexico are considered endangered according to ESA (Endangered Species Act of 1973).

Volunteers Needed at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center