Hatchery - Costa Rica

From Day 1 in Costa Rica, and likely until the end of the season, hatchery work has been a focus of our Field Biologist team. Since the end of last season, roots and weeds have infiltrated the sand within the enclosed area. This is problematic for young hatchlings as they may get entangled in the fibrous roots and never reach the surface. In order to prevent such a tragedy, our team pulled weeds and dug trenches in the sand to remove the hazardous plants. After several weeks of blistered hands and sore bodies, we had dug one meter deep throughout the hatchery. This process of digging and turning over the sand has also helped to aerate it. Once the sand was prepared, square 1x1 meter plots were marked off in a grid. Separated by a center aisle, one side is reserved solely for relocated nests while the other is punctuated with experimental plots that are testing the effects of shading on sand temperatures. Improvements to the fence are an ongoing endeavor which is aided by Jesús Suárez, our station handy-man. These efforts are being made to dissuade pesky raccoons from entering our hatchery. Until their access is completely restricted, additional fortifications are needed for each relocated nest. We have developed a strategy of covering the nests with a wire mesh, similar to chicken wire, and held in place by short rebar stakes which line the outsides of each plot. Thus far, it has successfully prevented raccoons from getting the eggs within our hatchery. 

A nest will get relocated to the hatchery if it has an increased risk of predation or was laid below the high tide mark and risks being inundated with rising tidal waters. Our hatchery is filling up fast with Olive Ridley nests which are all being relocated due to the shallowness of their nest and subsequent risk of predation. We also have several Leatherback nests and a couple of Green Sea Turtle nests in the hatchery.

Each of the biologists on our team has been tasked with specific duties to perform throughout the season. We have team members who are responsible for collecting nest temperature data, in-situ nest triangulations, managing our research equipment, and managing the hatchery operations. My position is Hatchery Manager. I am responsible for making sure that nest relocation and hatchling emergence data are completely recorded for each nest in the field notebook and then entered on the data computer. Much of the data collection work is accomplished at night by the team of biologists and volunteers who are patrolling the beach when turtles are most active in carrying out their nesting behavior.