Presentation by Paul Hillbrand, Sea turtle biologist Bald Head Island Conservancy

Efforts to protect sea turtles on Bald Head Island date back to 1980. Since its founding in 1983, the BHI Conservancy has coordinated and sponsored the Sea Turtle Protection Program, in cooperation with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Bald Head Island has been designated as an “index beach” by NMFS, making the sea turtle nest monitoring and protection efforts nationally recognized.  Biologist Hillbrand will discuss trends in sea turtle populations, threats to the animals, and how BHI Conservancy works to protect sea turtles.