Venture down to Bald Head Island (BHI) to see a rare but beautiful event of nature. The beaches of BHI are crucial nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles, and the Bald Head Island Conservancy (BHIC) is dedicated to protecting these endangered creatures.
BHIC monitors the island’s beaches nightly from May to October. Within the season, an average of 95 nests are laid, which produce roughly 7,000 hatchlings annually. From May through August, nesting females return to lay their eggs throughout the nights, and hatchlings emerge from July through October to begin their journey to the ocean. Witnessing a mother turtle nesting or a nest boil – when dozens of hatchlings erupt from the sand and scurry toward the waves – under the glow of the stars is a truly unforgettable experience.
The Conservancy educates the public about the nesting process, the challenges sea turtles face and conservation efforts through its Turtle Walks, ride-alongs and nest excavations. Join BHIC on a Turtle Walk or ride-along and you may witness a nesting mother or a nest boil for yourself. All nests are excavated three days after hatching, allowing BHIC to assess nest success and gather valuable data on the health of each nest. To learn more or get involved, visit bhic.org.
