Turtle Eggsperiment

In past years our little beach cove has often been used for maternity purposes 

by the occasional Mama turtle.  

After a clamber up the beach from the sea  she lays her eggs in the deep sand, 

well above high tide level. Usually around April/May.

But last year was a disaster. Early rains, heavier than usual, gushed down 

from the rocks and her brood of ping-pong size eggs were washed away. 

Only this empty canyon remained.

So this year, to prevent a tragic recurrence, we're going to try an experiment. 

The cove sand is back to normal and we now await the tell-tale tracks of Mama T. 

on her motherly mission.

Once she's deposited and disappeared the plan is to remove half the eggs 

and rebury them in identical sand in the garden. 

Yes, we'll wear gloves.

There's an ideal spot - my golf practice bunker, 

deep and safe from flood waters and predators. 

A net surround should keep the tiny turtles in when they pop out, 
which is usually at night. Come the dawn we can then put them onto the beach, 
hopefully to scamper off seaward and find their mum.

Should be interesting, though I'll have to hold off on my practice sand swings.