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Day Sea Turtle Hatchery, León

Shaded Turtle Hatchery
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The night before, we walked past this shaded hatchery and never saw it because it was too dark. During the day it was a dramatic sight, found there bordering the beach.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:45:04 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1132
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String Grid Located Eggs
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A string grid defined squares in the center of which sea turtle eggs were re-buried. Notice that they only walked on the string, to avoid accidently stepping on buried eggs.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:46:18 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1135
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The Newest Hatchery Not Yet Covered
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Next to the covered hatchery was a second, newer one for additional eggs that had been found. This new hatchery had not yet been covered.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:46:46 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1136
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Less Active Turtles
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The turtles were less active during the day. Apparently they were saving their energy for the big escape to sea that night.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:47:02 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1138
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A Turtle In The Hand
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A turtle in the hand illustrated just how small these turtles were when born.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:47:07 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1139
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Video Of The Sea Turtles
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A video of the Olive Ridley sea turtles showing how less active they were during the day than the night before.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:49:07 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #104900_VID00020
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Covered Hatchery An Abstract Beauty
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The covered hatchery was an object of abstract beauty. A light breezed caused it to appear to waver and dance.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:49:22 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1146
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The Hut With The Washtub
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The hut where they kept and maintained the washtub of waiting sea turtles was just behind the new hatchery and a short walk to the beach.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:52:56 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1154
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The Beach
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The beach alongside the hatchery was wide and clean and open to the public. Here, a couple was just concluding a walk.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:53:56 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1155
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An Abstract Mountain
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One view of the hatchery through a screen at its far end created this abstract view of a mountain.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:03:47 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1159
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The Path Out Over A Low Hill
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The hatchery was surrounded by low sand hills that protected it from wind. Here, while leaving, we approached the back of the sign that, the night before, had guided us to the hatchery.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:04:02 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1160
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The Hatchery Was Near The Village
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The hatchery was on an island just across the river from a small village. At low tide it was actually possible to walk no more than waist deep in water to the island.


Sea Turtle Hatchery by Day   •  Hatchery for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles external link   •  Along the Rio Chiquito, León, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Monday 2 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:08:40 Thursday 17 November 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1163
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