Nest Activity

Kemp's Ridley Ashore SPI

South Padre Island is part of the only nesting beach in the world for the critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle. Sea Turtle, Inc. runs the conservation efforts for the Kemp's ridley on the South Padre Island & Boca Chica beaches annually. The nesting season typically begins in Early April and continues into August. We offer public releases of hatchlings mostly in the months of June, July & August. Below is a chart that is updated during the nesting season.

 

 

 

 

 

See More Photos of Nesting Sea Turtles

Nesting Activity for Current and Past Seasons

2013 Nesting Season

Nest-Sponsor-List-2013

 

 

 

 

2012 Nesting Season Summary

2012 Nesting Season
April 12, 2012 First nest was found on South Padre Island
April 25, 2012 The largest nest was found with 139 eggs! A Texas State Record!
June 6, 2012 The first nest hatched and was released.
Aug, 2012 Last hatchlings were released
Grand Totals: Number of Nests found: 72
Number of eggs laid: 7223
Number of hatchlings released: 5638
Hatching Success Rate: 78%
69 nests were laid by Kemp's Ridleys, 1 was Loggerhead, and 2 were Atlantic Green

2011 Nesting Season Summary

2011 Nesting Season
April 16, 2011 First nest was found on South Padre Island
May 23, 2011 The largest nest was found with 118 eggs!
June 11, 2011 The first 2 nest hatched and were released.
July 13, 2011 Last public release of hatchlings took place at County Beach Access #4
Grand Totals: Number of Nests found: 41
Number of eggs laid: 3786
Number of hatchlings released: 3104
Hatching Success Rate: 81.9%
All 41 of the 2011 nests were laid by Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

2010 Nesting Season Summary

2010 Nesting Season
April 29, 2010 First nest was found on South Padre Island
May 15, 2010 The largest nest was found with 133 eggs!
June 20, 2010 The first nest hatched and was released.
August 15, 2010 Last hatchlings were released
Grand Totals: Number of Nests found: 32
Number of eggs laid: 3247
Number of hatchlings released: 2952
Hatching Success Rate: 91%
All 32 of the 2010 nests were laid by Kemp's ridley sea turtles.        

2009 Nesting Season Summary

2009 Nesting Season
April 16, 2009 First nest was found on South Padre Island
June 15, 2009 The largest nest was found with 131 eggs!
June 13, 2009 The first four nests hatched and were released.
August 19, 2009 Last hatchlings were released
Grand Totals: Number of Nests found: 40
Number of eggs laid: 3722
Number of hatchlings released: 2795
Hatching Success Rate: 81.9%
All 40 of the 2009 nests were laid by Kemp's ridley sea turtles.        

2008 Nesting Season Summary

2008 Nesting Season
April 12, 2008 First nest was found on South Padre Island
June 10, 2008 The largest nest was found with 131 eggs!
June 10, 2008 The first nest hatched and was released.
July 22, 2008 Last hatchlings were released
Grand Totals: Number of Nests found: 52
Number of eggs laid: 5177
Number of hatchlings released: 4497
Hatching Success Rate: 86.8%
51 of the 2008 nests were laid by Kemp's ridley sea turtles & 1 nest was laid by an Atlantic green sea turtle.

2007 Nesting Season Summary

2007 Nesting Season
April 24, 2007 First nest was found on South Padre Island
April 30, 2007 The largest nest was found with 133 eggs!
June 18, 2007 The first nest hatched and was released.
August 9, 2007 Last hatchlings were released
Grand Totals: Number of Nests found: 22
Number of eggs laid: 2202
Number of hatchlings released: 1799
Hatching Success Rate: 85%
20 of the 2007 nests were laid by Kemp's ridley sea turtles & 2 were laid by loggerhead sea turtles

2006 Nesting Season Summary

2006 Nesting Season
April 28, 2006 First nest was found on South Padre Island
April 28, 2006 The largest nest was found with 122 eggs!
June 17, 2006 The first nest hatched and was released.
August 10, 2006 Last hatchlings were released
Grand Totals: Number of Nests found: 20
Number of eggs laid: 2046
Number of hatchlings released: 1811
Hatching Success Rate: 90.05%
19 of the 2006 nests were laid by Kemp's ridley sea turtles & 1 was laid by a loggerhead sea turtle.