10/02/2025
A dedicated crew of Skidaway Audubon volunteers has been busier than ever this summer, with record numbers of female Diamondback terrapins laying record numbers of eggs in sand traps at The Landings.
The volunteers so far this season have encountered over 300 individual nesting females and have rescued over 6,457 eggs, far more than this time last year, and the season is not over yet. Mamas are still emerging from the marsh as they instinctively head toward the bunkers to nest. This includes turtles emerging at Sunset Park and crossing Landings Way South as they seek a nesting site.
“We beg all drivers to please slow down and look out for these turtles who simply want to go lay their eggs,” said Audubon President Dawn Cordo. “When one dies, it means some or all of her eggs could be lost, plus all her potential subsequent generations. Terrapins lay two to three clutches a year or more, so even one death is a significant loss.”
The nesting season began in late April and should wind down the end of July, according to Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project Co-Chair Lisa Isenhour. Throughout the hot summer, project volunteers carefully dig up the tiny eggs and place them in protected hatcheries, safe from crows, raccoons and other predators. Adorable hatchlings are expected to appear about 65 days later. Then the fun begins.
Community hatchling releases, a highlight of every summer at The Landings, are scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 19 and Sept. 2, 16 & 30. An additional release is set for Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. Participants will learn about these extraordinary terrapins and will have an unforgettable, hands-on experience with a baby turtle before carefully releasing the tiny newborn into the wild.
Hatchling releases, held at Sunset Park, are open to all Landings residents with gate passes. All releases will be “weather permitting” and may be canceled if storms pop up. Register online at SkidawayAudubon.org beginning Aug. 1. Each session is limited to 60 attendees, and attendees may only sign up for one session due to the popularity of these events. The minimum age to handle a turtle is 6 years old. All attendees, even if just chaperoning a child, should register. Parking is limited, so golf carts are encouraged. The events are free.
The terrapin project receives extensive community support. In addition to maintaining their own scheduled watches, volunteers are alerted to sightings of nesting terrapins by golfers, residents and grounds crew members. So far this year, volunteers received nearly 60 alerts, the majority from golfers.
“We’d like to thank the community for their strong support of our conservation efforts, which provide these amazing opportunities for residents to get one-on-one with the hatchlings and learn about these fascinating little creatures,” stated Isenhour.
The Skidaway Audubon project has become an exemplary initiative and has received several awards. The successful initiative contributes to The Landings Golf & Athletic Club’s certification as an Audubon International Cooperative Environmental Sanctuary. It also is generating meaningful data being used by researchers to aid in the recovery of the species.
The rescue work is conducted under a GA Department of Natural Resources permit in cooperation with noted naturalist John “Crawfish” Crawford. Years ago, the diamondbacks were used to make turtle soup and were harvested nearly to extinction. In 2003, commercial harvesting of diamondbacks was banned. Skidaway’s highly successful initiative is a bright spot along the eastern seaboard, where terrapin numbers are still in steady decline. For more information on the project, visit SkidawayAudubon.org.
