The 4x4 Beach had 5 turtle nests this past season. 3 out of the 5 successfully hatched while the remaining 2 were affected by the recent nor'easter with results unknown at the time of publication. Nest 18: A Determined Group Nest 18 was laid on June 26 and relocated, with 86 eggs recovered from a loggerhead nest. A small team of five began sitting on August 22 while also supporting activity at Nest 19. After several quiet nights, continuous sounds of hatchling activity bega

Our first summer of Ambassadors on the beach—and at community events—was successful and eye-opening all at once! North Beach Preservation Alliance Ambassador tents were set up in Swan Beach and Carova on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the summer. We talked with more than 1,500 visitors—some who have been coming here for 20 years, some visiting for the very first time, and many somewhere in between. Those conversations gave us plenty of opportuni

It’s sea turtle nesting time on the 4x4 beach, and you may spot the patrol at sunrise looking for tracks or signs of overnight nesting. Nesting season typically begins in late May and runs through September, sometimes into early October. Most sea turtles come ashore at night, except for Kemp’s Ridleys, which often nest during the day. The most common species here in the OBX is the loggerhead, but green and Kemp’s Ridley turtles also nest on our beaches. Leatherbacks and hawks