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Vanessa Bramlett

@vbramlett

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We have followed our hatchlings out of the nest, across the sand and finally into the surf.So what happens when that tiny turtle disappears beneath the first wave?

It swims.

And swims.

And swims.

For roughly its first day at sea, a loggerhead hatchling enters what scientists call a “swim frenzy”…a period of intense, almost continuous swimming designed to carry it away from the dangerous shallow waters near shore.

For an animal only a few inches long, it is an extraordinary physical feat.

And here is something even more remarkable…

The hatchling is not simply drifting wherever the ocean takes it.

Close to shore, incoming waves help point it toward deeper water. Once farther offshore, loggerheads can use something we cannot see at all…Earth’s magnetic field.

Scientists have discovered that young loggerheads can detect differences in the magnetic field in different parts of the Atlantic and adjust the direction they swim. It is as though they begin life carrying the beginnings of an invisible compass.

No parent shows them the way.

The mother who laid the egg may already be hundreds of miles away.

Yet within hours of leaving the nest, this tiny turtle is swimming toward an oceanic world it has never seen…guided by instincts written into it long before it ever touched the sea.

And this is only the beginning.

If it survives those first days, currents will eventually carry it toward floating habitats that may become its nursery…and into a period of its life that scientists once called “the lost years.”

We’ll follow it there next Tuesday. 💚

Turtle Tip

If you are fortunate enough to see hatchlings entering the water, let them make this journey themselves. Keep your distance, avoid lights and flash photography, and never carry them into the ocean unless directed by permitted turtle personnel.

Their crawl and first swim are part of a remarkable natural transition from nest…to beach…to open sea. #connectrespectprotect #daufuskieislandconservancy #daufuskieisland #seaturtleseason2026 #daufuskieislandturtleprotection daufuskieislandturtleteam by @vbramlett

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2 months ago

🌊Did You Know? One mama turtle may lay 3–5 nests in a single season.

A nesting season is no small feat!

Each nesting crawl represents an incredible expenditure of energy. That’s why it’s so vital to keep your distance if you come upon a mama on a crawl. Any distraction for her could result in severe, long-term consequences for her and her offspring.

Our beaches become critical habitat during turtle season, and small actions from all of us make a big difference. Please spread the word to your guests and to our visitors! #connectrespectprotect #daufuskieislandconservancy #daufuskieisland #seaturtleseason2026 by @vbramlett

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6 months ago

Tonight is my last night in this little cottage that has held so much of my heart.

My refuge. My quiet place. A small corner of the world where the rhythms of the sea somehow made everything feel steady again.

The tears are waiting patiently… held back for now by the practical matters of closing doors and gathering the last pieces of a life lived here. Instead, I sit and watch the ocean, listening to the waves as they roll gently toward shore and then slip back out again. That familiar, perfect rhythm.

How many mornings began here with coffee on the porch steps, walking down to the beach to greet the Daufuskie sunrise, the sky slowly waking as the water caught the first light of day.

And how many nights ended with the moon shining through the windows, moonlight spilling across the water and into these quiet rooms.

So many emotions tonight. But above all else, what I feel most deeply is gratitude.

Gratitude for this beautiful place and for the people who filled it with laughter and love. So very grateful for those moments that will become lifelong memories.

Thank you to everyone who shared time here with us. This cottage will always hold a piece of my heart as I hope it does yours.

And long after tonight, when the moonlight spills across the water and the sun rises over the beach… a part of my heart will always wake up … right here. by @vbramlett

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7 months ago

An island shaped by salt and sand, by tides and marsh grass, briefly held something borrowed from somewhere else. Only a handful of times in a century has snow found its way here.

To see the flurries falling, then the ground transformed feels like time slowing. Like the island is pausing, just for a moment, to show us a different kind of beauty. A reminder that even the most familiar places can still surprise us.

Daufuskie knows tides, not snow.

And yet… here it is. by @vbramlett

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9 months ago

A quiet beach at dusk. A young gator drifting through reflected trees. Sunbeams dancing in our hanging moss. A heron contemplating the sunset. This is Daufuskie! Wild, delicate, and worth protecting. #connectrespectprotect #daufuskieislandconservancy #daufuskieisland by @vbramlett

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a year ago

On Daufuskie, even the smallest everyday choices help protect our wildlife and waterways. Here are a few simple swaps that make a big difference — many you may not have thought of yet:

🚫 No straw, please — ask before your drink arrives.
🎈 Skip the balloons — wildlife often mistake the pieces for food.
🍱 Bring a reusable container when dining out so leftovers don’t require foam or plastic boxes.
🛺 Secure everything on carts and boats — wind and bumps easily send plastic flying.

These small habits add up, especially on a small island.

Thank you for choosing to protect Daufuskie’s beaches, marshes, and wildlife — one mindful action at a time. ♻️ #connectrespectprotect #daufuskieislandconservancy #duafuskieisland #plasticawarenessweek by @vbramlett

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a year ago

Plastic pollution reaches every corner of our island — and every species that calls it home.

🐢 Sea turtles mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish.
🐦 Oystercatchers and herons pick up bright fragments, thinking they’re food.
🐬 Dolphins can become entangled or ingest debris while feeding.
🦪 Oysters filter microplastics from our waters — the same waters we depend on.

When plastic drifts into our marshes and beaches, it quietly endangers the wildlife we love most.

Together, we can make choices that protect them — one refillable bottle, one cleanup, one conversation at a time. ♻️
#connectrespectprotect #daufuskieislandconservancy #daufuskieisland #plasticawarenessweek by @vbramlett

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a year ago

Did you know your morning tea bags might release thousands of microplastics into your cup? Or that fleece sheds plastic fibers with every wash? Even small changes like switching to loose-leaf tea and natural fabrics can help keep microplastics out of our island waters. #connectrespectprotect #daufuskieislandconservancy #daufuskieisland #plasticawarenessweek
Know more hidden plastics? Name them in the comments below! by @vbramlett

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a year ago

🎬A powerful film, a packed house, and a community that lifts each other up.

To everyone who came out last night to celebrate Haint…thank you! 💜💜💜

From heartfelt introductions by the film’s creators to applause that filled the room, our premiere felt truly special.

What a gift to see our island shine. 🎞️ Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! #@haint_thefilm #daufuskieisland by @vbramlett

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a year ago

#connectrespectprotect #daufuskieisland #daufuskieislandconservancy by @vbramlett

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a year ago

A beautiful windy day on the island! 💜 taken in Daufuskie Island by @vbramlett

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a year ago

by @vbramlett

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a year ago