The Nature Foundation St. Maarten (naturefoundationsxm.org) has confirmed the first sea turtle nest of the 2024 season laid on Maho Beach by a leatherback sea turtle. The area has been cordoned off. Don't know how to provide a link but you can check out their website. Pretty cool news and we hope that area is protected.

Here is the link

Nature Foundation SXM LINK

Drphilsxm

Thanks Dr Phil SXM. Good to know a tech person

These are photos courtesy of the Facebook page for Nature Foundation of St Maarten FYI

Drphilsxm

I just hope nobody disturbs the best. Lots of uneducated adults and adolescents out there that could mess up the nest.

Of all the beaches to make your nest! Hopefully it will be well protected.

Yes, a very scary place for those eggs to be. I really hope they will be OK. I remember seeing a couple of nests cordoned off over the years, by Beachside, but the traffic there was so much less than on Maho.

From the pic, it looks like they are on the SSBB end of the beach - can't think of a worse place with all the cruise ship passengers! And I can't see area marked off on the SSBB cam

It's not visible from the other side of the beach either...

I just saw the yellow tape visible on the Tortuga webcam.

You can see a ,clear square area about halfway down the beach from SSBB camera. People are usually standing at the edge taking photos. I could not see any yellow tape. On multiple cruise ship days Nature Foundation sdhould consider having volunteers nearby. How long is the gestation period for Leatherback turtle eggs?

Googled it. About 60 days. Long time on this beach.

I agree, no yellow tape, just a bunch of people. Hope the eggs survive.

Not true , because I live in that area and pass everyday. It has four poles with yellow tape plus their sign about the reason why its blocked and no one goes into that area . Totally being respected . Thanks for your concern.

Besides the number of people, I would think the hope is the sand stays there. We all have seen that beach and not much but rock many times.

Yes. Forgot abbot how that all comes and goes there. People might be the least of the danger.