JEKYLL ISLAND, Fla. — Conservationists with the Jekyll Island Authority completed a nest inventory on Oct. 14 of a rare green sea turtle nest that hatched on Jekyll Island. The hatching marks a rare occurrence on the island, where loggerhead sea turtles account for the vast majority of nesting activity.
In Jekyll Island’s recorded history, only three green sea turtle nests have called the island’s beaches home. The island’s first green sea turtle nest in 2007 was its first successful nest, followed by a nest in 2015 and the 2026 nest, which became the second successful green sea turtle nest in the island’s history.
The nest was laid on Aug. 16 and hatched on Oct. 11 following a 56-day incubation period. During the inventory, the conservation team documented 66 hatched eggs and 84 unhatched eggs, noting that a combination of hatched and unhatched eggs is normal for sea turtle nests.
As part of the inventory process, conservationists examine unhatched eggs to assess whether development occurred and how far it progressed. During the examination, the team discovered two partially developed sea turtles inside their eggs. Authority conservationists noted that female sea turtles can produce unfertilized eggs that never develop, while other eggs may begin developing but fail to hatch.
The inventory also documented a leucistic green sea turtle hatchling displaying pale, almost white coloration. Leucism is a pigmentation condition that does not necessarily affect overall health, but the lighter appearance leaves the hatchling without natural camouflage, making it more visible to predators in the wild.
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