week 6 John & Ginger pick up 6 bags of trash in zone 4

It has been almost a week since John and I last walked the beach and I am just now getting around to posting.  I wish I would post sooner because everything is fresh on my mind then, but that is okay....sometimes things just take longer than you plan.

On June 11th, John and I picked up 6 bags of trash in Zone 4.  We could have gotten more, but John has to get to work and we just don't have time to get it all.

Some of our loot included the following:
1 can
4 plastic bottles
2 ziplock bags
2 unused condoms
1 panty liner
1 balloon :-(

2 shoes
1 steel butter knife
32 cigarette butts (there were much much more, but no time to collect when heading to work)

18 straws
7 bottle caps
6 plastic lids
1 plastic spoon, 1 plastic knife, & 1 plastic fork
19 toys including one good volley ball (it is a little flat, but we can pump it up!)
1 chair
1 towel
1 mesh net for toys :-(

1 swim diaper (yuck--I picked up with a stick)

As we were getting ready to turn around at the end of our zone and head back, a person thanked us for picking up trash and added to our items.  As it turns out, he owns Kowabunga Surf School and every Friday morning, he and a group of kids also pick up trash.  I know that other surf camps in the area do the same such as WB Surf Camp and also Odyssey Surf Camp.  We are so lucky to have ocean advocates on our beach!  Below is a picture of Kenny from Kowabunga.

I always love it when Mother Ocean gives us a treasure.  One of the treasures I found this week was a beautiful piece of sea glass.

The other treasure was being able to help Nancy Fahey locate eggs from our very first nest of the season.  Thanks to Nancy and CJ (the nest parent) for allowing me to share in this joyous moment.  Honestly, it is sheer joy.  Once we had located the exact nest site, we replaced the sand that we had moved.  As I was running my fingers through the loose, soft grains of sand I couldn't help but say in a serene voice "I love this!".  Honestly, I felt like I could feel each individual grain and I could not help but imagine what the scene must have been like when the mother turtle was displacing the sand with her flippers so that she could leave her clutch on WB.  Thank you Mother Turtle and Thank You Mother Ocean for all of the treasures you bestow to us.

Nancy and CJ find the egg.

Nancy

Nancy and Me.

Week 4: John and Ginger find many interesting things in zone 4

This was an interesting Memorial Day walk for John and I.  Since John did not have to work we took our time on the beach this morning.  When we first got out there, John said, "For Memorial Day, the trash does not seem so bad."

 This led to a conversation about an editorial I had read in Lumina News in which it was mentioned that the police department had been writing more tickets for littering and dogs on the beach.  I wondered if this was the reason for less trash.  I have always said that enforcement of a law is easy if you write a few tickets, because then word of mouth will spread.  I'm not sure if I am right, but I believe it and when I have spoken with towns in California that have passed a "no smoking" ordinance on their beach strands, they have said this very same thing.  Word of mouth and positive peer pressure have kept their beaches clean.  In fact, our friend, Danielle Richardet and her friend, Sara Bayles is doing a comparison of 20 minute beach clean ups.  Sara picks up trash in Santa Monica, which is a smoke free beach and Danielle picks up trash at WB.  They each pick up for 20 minutes and then count the number of cigarette butts they found.  Here are the results:  24 clean ups in Santa Monica, CA = 179 butts;  19 clean ups in Wrightsville Beach, NC = 4, 278 butts.  Wow! The numbers speak for themselves.

Speaking of trash and cigarette butts, John and I collected 7 bags of trash even though we at first thought the beach was clean.

Our trash included, but was not limited to:

38 cigarette butts

We saw several piles like this where people obviously thought the beach was an ash tray and did not realize or  maybe did not care that cigarette butts are litter that contain plastic filters that never biodegrade.

17 bottle caps

2 plastic bags
1 chair

12 toys

16 plastic bottles

8 aluminum cans

1 glass bottle

5 plastic cups

1 ziplock bag

5 articles of clothing (including another baseball hat bill without the rest of the hat or fabric.  I have never seen these before and already this year, I have collected two in as many weeks.  The bills are made of plastic which will never biodegrade---I had never thought about that before!)

1 shoe (which was my size, but there was no match!  It was a silver sandal too---I felt like Cinderella)

1 solid brass cigarette lighter engraved for Lt. J. Miller (if you know him, let us know---we will return it.)

20 straws

2 towels

3 balloons and strings (2 of which were all wrapped up in Sargassum.   The sad story about that is that Sargassum is the home to lots of marine animals including sea turtle hatchlings.  The sea turtle hatchlings and other animals will live off the food and nutrients that they find in the Sargassum.  Sadly, if balloons and other litter are a part of this Sargassum, then marine animals will ingest this and can become sick and die.)

As I was sorting the trash today, I piled some of the snack bags and took a photo.  I don't usually keep snack bags because they smell too bad, usually have ants on them, and are just too yucky.  However, I thought it was worth a picture.  It is noteworthy how much of our food (and everything) comes in such disposable packaging that ends up in our environment as litter.

We also found lots of interesting marine life that had washed up on shore, none of which were alive.  We found one Puffer Fish (at least that is what John said it was)

and one Portuguese Man O' War.  I was very careful to not touch him.

and one beautiful mosaic seashell Sea Turtle

Later in the day we took our boat from WB to CB.  Along the way, we scooped 3 types of plastic bags out of the waterway, 1 styrofoam cup and 1 plastic bottle.

We also saw lots of people having fun and displaying some beautiful kites.

week 4, Rick and Jill report from zones 0 & 4

Hi Ginger,

 

We soooo love your KIC bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Here are the reports for the week of 5/21:

 

5/22: Zone 4 - 2 plastic cups

5/25: Zone 0 - full grocery bag of beer cans and plastic cups/ bottles

 

I wish you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend as well!

Best,

Jill

week 3 John and Ginger and the KIC Bike.

This was our first walk of the season and we were surprised by how much wrack line had collected on the beach.  It made me think of the nest that was in zone 5 last year and how the momma sea turtle had disturbed the line of wrack to make her way up to her desired spot to leave her clutch.   I looked for these same signs today, but no such luck.

We did see a beautiful sunrise though.  It was as though the horizon had opened up and was gently helping the sun to rise this morning (I need that kind of help in the mornings too)  :-)

We collected the following on our walk:
12 toys including a butterfly net, a coverless tennis ball, several shovels and a bucket
13 cigarette butts (there were many more, but no time before work to collect those)
1 try sport swim cap (anyone want it---looks like it is in good shape)
2 plastic bags (1 from Wings and 1 from Food Lion)
1 plastic bottle
1 beer can
1 plastic cup
1 styrofoam cup (also plastic)
1 cigarette lighter
1 empty cigarette package
1 fishing gear
10 bottle caps
1 plastic ring pop (minus the candy)
1 bracelet
5 straws
1 plastic hat bill minus the fabric and the rest of the hat (I never thought about the bill of a baseball hat being made of plastic, but it is....    This was easy to see with the fabric missing)
1 pair of cheap sunglasses
lots of other bits of plastic

and John found 2 beautiful shells.

As I was sorting trash, I could not help but think about my cat, Speckles.  If you followed the blog last year, you will remember that Speckles loved to help me sort trash.  He would commune with me every Monday morning while I was sorting, tossing, washing, and organizing trash.  I often took his picture and would sometimes post it.

Sadly, Speckles was killed by a car back in November.  I miss him terribly, but will remember his love for me and those beautiful eyes (one blue and one green).  He was my soul cat and I am thankful that he showed up at our house as a stray and allowed me to be in his life for over 6 years.  I have many happy memories with him.

On a final note, John gave me the perfect Christmas gift this year.  A trailer for my bike so that I can collect trash when I ride on the bike trail.  I love it!!!  I call it "Trailer Trash"  :-)

I have picked up a lot of trash from the cross city trail, but I have also packed chairs in my trailer to take to Airlie Garden for their Friday night concerts.   We often run into other WBSTP volunteers there who also have a bike trailer and from whom John got the wonderful idea---Rick and Jill.

Today I went to WB Farmer's Market which is open every Monday through Labor Day.  I decided to put a cooler in my KIC trailer and go shopping.  I bought eggs, cheese and carrots all from the market today.  Pictured below is the KIC Bike as I waited for the drawbridge.  We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.  Let's Keep It Clean.  Thanks for all you do.

week 3- Jill & Rick in zones 0 & 4

Good morning Ginger,

We had a wonderful morning on the beach -- but no tracks yet. 

Here's the report for the week of 5/14:

5/15: Zone 4 - just a bucket handle -- which is great for zone 4!

5/18: Zone 0 - 1/2 grocery bag - plastic cups & a bottle

Have a great weekend!

Jill

week 18--Jill's last report in zone 4

Hi Ginger,

So sad...our last report...

Zone 4, Tuesday, 8/30 - 1 grocery bag

Have a great holiday weekend!


Jill

week 18--Pleasant Morning for Michelle in zone 4

Wednesday, August 31, was the most beautiful morning. We had a gentle rain the night before and it was only 66 degrees!  I even had to wear a jacket for the first half of my walk in Zone 4.  I only picked up 1/2 bag of trash.  Two cups, string, one beer can, one balloon, a few pieces that looked like thick roof shingles, and a plastic fork.  The sunrise was spectacular and the walk took me about twice as long as it usually does because of all the shells...huge!  No tracks today, but it was a wonderful summer.  Three nests...way to go WBSTP!!!  Michelle

Rick & Jill in zones 0 & 4---week 17

Hi Ginger,

Thanks for the reminder!  The blog updates look exciting, so can't wait to check in!  Thanks so much for doing this!

Here's a quick update:

Tuesday, Zone 4 8/23 - 1/2 grocery bag
Friday, Zone 0 8/26 - full grocery bag

Have a wonderful week!


Jill

weeks 16 & 17--Mellissa in zone 4

Hi Ginger
I have forgotten to update you. Zone 4
Last Friday Aug 26 - We had about 1/2 a grocery size bag of garbage and a plastic chair. There was an extremely high tide as the storm was coming in, I think most garbage was swept out to sea. 
The Friday before Aug 19 - one full grocery size bag of garbage. 


Thanks!
-Mellissa

week 18--John and Ginger in zone 4

This was our final official walk for the 2011 Nesting Season as Nancy will take over Sept. 1 - Sept 15.
There were still a lot of shells on the beach and also some trash from Hurricane Irene.  All total, we collected about 4 bags of trash.  We also picked up a lot of plastic bags from the beach over the last few days---all total--11!!!  I sure wish we could ban plastic bags and smoking on the beach.

Our loot for today:
1 plastic cup
2 cig butts (of course, there are many many more, but we didn't pick them up)
11 plastic bags
4 ziplock bags
8 toys
19 bottle caps
2 plastic bottles
1 pair of reading glasses
1 balloon
17 straws
1 towel
1 aluminum can

week 16--Nancy Faye Craig in zone 4

Nancy reported that she only found 1/2 bag of trash in zone 4 and it included quite a few dryer sheets and 6 bottle caps.

week 17--Ginger in zone 4

I walked sans John this morning, but unlike him,  I did not find tracks when I walked alone!!!!


I did collect the equivalent of 6 bags of garbage and I got to say hello to our "Kali Wali" friends.


1 cigar + tip
1 plastic bag

3 ziplock bags
8 toys
3 shoes
20 straws
18 bottle caps
4 aluminum cans
9 plastic bottles
5 plastic cup lids
1 boogie board
1 chair
1 glass bottle
1 plastic spoon
3 plastic knives
1 real (stainless steel) fork

Jill finds a new past time in zone 0!

Hi Ginger,

Seems I forgot to do this Friday : (

Here's a quick update:

Tues 8/16 Zone 4: 3/4 grocery bag
Fri 8/19 Zone 0 - 1/4 grocery bag -- only thing of interest was nail clippers...I hadn't thought of doing that while on the beach, but I suppose it's as good of a time as any.

Have a great week!

Jill

A beautiful morning in zone 4 for Michelle

Good Morning Wed Morning from Zone 4.  Only 1/2 bag of trash this morning which is really great news.  There was one large blue tent just south of life guard sand #10.  I called the non-emergency police and let them know.  Also, in front of the Blockade Runner a family had left two chairs, an umbrella, and lots of toys on the beach overnight.  I did not pick them up because they were above the tide line and were all bunched up together.  It was a truly beautiful morning and I was just sorry I didn't see any turtle tracks.  Enjoy this amazing day!  Michelle

week 16--Gifts from the Sea and Mother Nature! John & Ginger-zone 4

The last week has been nothing less than exhilarating and I am so proud and happy to be part of a project that does such amazing things for sea turtles and the planet.

Saturday was just awesome.  My 6 year old nephew, Jackson was visiting with us and as soon as his parents walked to my front door to drop him off, they spotted a baby snapping turtle in our yard!

 I told Jackson he was bringing "turtle luck" and I was sure we would find some live hatchlings that night at our excavation.

We then went for a boat ride and went tubing, which was fun for both Jackson and me.

Then on our boat ride to find a "beach" for playing in the sand, we saw a huge pod of dolphins.  Jackson had never seen dolphins before and he was just beside himself.

I told him that God had given us a gift to let us be able to see the dolphins and he said, "I love dolphins and I love God"  (how sweet).

Later, we ate at PT's and returned home to shower.   When we got out of the car, a  Box Turtle was waiting for us in our driveway!!!

Off to the serpentarium and Kilwin's for ice cream.

And finally, down to Access 41 for our nest excavation!  The moon was nothing less than gorgeous as it led 5 sea turtle hatchlings into the arms of Mother Ocean!

 What excitement!!!  Some things never get old no matter how many times you see them.  Dolphins and Sea Turtles in the same day---what an amazing gift!!!  A wonderful day with my nephew.

On Monday, John and I walked zone 4 hoping for tracks, but it was not to be this week.  However, the moon was still beautiful.

We collected 4 bags of garbage (less than normal for us).  I will note that we were short on time, so when we returned to Oceanic, we did not have time to pick up trash in that area.  I felt so guilty, but it is what it is.  In addition to lots of paper and stray plastic, we also found the following:


5 plastic bags (one we picked out of the ocean)!
5 cigs (of course there were so many more that we did not collect)
1 shoe
34 various bottle caps
firework remnants

4 plastic bottles (1 water and 3 small hotel shampoo bottles)
17 straws
1 pair of sunglasses
1 pair of goggles
1 plastic spoon
1 plastic mesh bag that toys used for packaging toys
5 aluminum cans
1 glass bottle

Our Rescue dog, Gigi was happy to watch me sort trash today.

Report from Nancy Craig in zone 4 for week 15

Nancy found more trash than normal for her totaling 2 bags.  Her trash included 28 bottle caps!

Rick & Jill find suspicious items in zone 0! Hmmmm....

Hi Ginger,

It was wonderful seeing you and John and all of the turtlers last week.  I loved meeting Jackson last night!!  He's darling!

Here are the updates for the week of 8/8:

8/9: Zone 4 - 1 full bag, although not blatant stuff - looked like mostly things that could have been missed when dragging beach stuff home.
8/12: Zone 0 - 1/2 bag -- of the treasures I found not one, not two - but three condom wrappers and 3 women's sunglasses.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

Have a great week and get some rest!


Jill

week 15- Ginger and John in zone 4

We found 8 bags of trash in zone 4.  Were hoping for tracks, but no such luck today.  I'm sure if I sleep in, John will find tracks, but I refuse to do that again!!!!


1 broken watch
13 butts (many many more that we didn't pick up---this is always the case!)
1 pair of boxers
6 plastic cups
11 plastic bottles
12 toys or toy pieces
5 ziplock bags
31 various bottle caps

8 shoes
29 straws
1 plastic bag
5 plastic lids
1 aluminum can
1 very good boogie board fin.  If you have the match, I will share :)
2 plastic spoons
1 plastic fork

week 14--John & Ginger in zone 4 and a new nephew!!!

Our day started at 4:30 AM with a phone call announcing we had a new nephew, Taylor McRae or "TMac" as I like to call him!

So, I was sure we would have another turtle nest, but we didn't.  However we collected 4 bags of trash which is less than normal for us.  You will have to forgive me for not taking many pics of the trash, as I was in a hurry to get this trash sorted so I could go meet my new little man.

Our trash included:
38 butts
2 different shoes
1 plastic bag (beside our car where we parked)

2 ziplock bags
38 straws
24 bottle caps
4 styrofoam cups
4 plastic lids
2 sunglasses
3 chapsticks
12 toys
3 plastic bottles
1 balloon piece

Over the course of the last few days, I have been down to the beach several times and during that time, I have collected 2 plastic bags,  1 plastic bottle, several more straws and several more plastic caps.  I did not keep count of the straws and caps as I just threw them in the trash cans.