2023-05-31T13:37:15-04:00 2022-12-31 581971594 CANADY RICHBOURG & ASSOCIATES LLP 5302 FREDERICK ST STE 200 SAVANNAH GA 31405 990 2022-01-01 581990772 TYBEE ISLAND MARINE SCIENCE FOUNDATION INC TYBE 9127865917 PO BOX 1879 TYBEE ISLAND GA 31328 DOUG DUCH PRESIDENT 9127865917 2023-05-23 DOUG DUCH 999009999 false SARAH D RICHBOURG P00961293 9123542910 2023-05-23 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z DOUG DUCH PO BOX 1879 TYBEE ISLAND GA 31328 938657 false X WWW.TYBEEMARINESCIENCE.ORG X 1990 GA TO CULTIVATE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF COASTAL GEORGIA'S NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH. 12 12 36 27 0 585065 141087 301879 546944 -24052 -4703 80769 153368 943661 836696 0 0 328375 525248 0 62246 254209 435666 582584 960914 361077 -124218 1419363 1289765 41807 36427 1377556 1253338 X TO CULTIVATE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF COASTAL GEORGIA'S NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH. false false 715222 AUDIENCE SERVED IN 2022 THE CENTER SERVED 5,339 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE ISLAND'S VISITORS WE OFFER: HOUR-LONG WALKS, TALKS & TREKS: BEACH WALKS, TURTLE TALKS, AND MARSH TREKS. VISITORS EXPLORE OUR COASTAL GEORGIA GALLERIES-DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY SCIENCE CENTER STAFF MEMBERS, THE GALLERY IS 4,000 SQUARE FEET, BUT PACKED WITH INFORMATION ON COASTAL GEORGIA'S NATURAL RESOURCES. CART EXPLORATION PROGRAMS ARE SCHEDULED IN THE GALLERY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR NINE WEEKS OF SEA CAMP: COASTAL KIDS OCEAN ADVENTURE - OFFERS SUMMER FUN FOR THE KIDS. FOR GROUPS WE OFFER: GIRL SCOUTS - PARTICIPATE IN THE COASTAL BADGE PROGRAM. CUB AND BOY SCOUTS - PARTICIPATE IN BARRIER ISLAND PATCH PROGRAM OR OCEANOGRAPHY MERIT BADGE PROGRAM. SCHOOL GROUPS, PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE - PARTICIPATE IN OUR COASTAL CLASSROOM, SIDEWALK TO THE SEA, AND COASTAL SCIENTIST PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH OUR OCEAN OUTREACH PROGRAM WE EXTEND OUR EDUCATIONAL REACH AT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS. CONSERVATION PROGRAMS OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE; THE TYBEE SEA TURTLE PROJECT, DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN R&R, SHORE/SEABIRD RESCUE, AND WE PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK AND SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK. CONSERVATION DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN R&R (RESCUE & RELEASE) DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS TAKE A LONG TIME TO MATURE. THEY LIVE FOR 25-40 YEARS AND DON'T START NESTING UNTIL THEY'RE SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS OLD. JUST PRIOR TO THE 1920S DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS WERE HUNTED TO THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, BECAUSE IT WAS FASHIONABLE, IN AMERICAN, TO EAT A WINE-BASED TURTLE SOUP. FORTUNATELY FOR THE TERRAPINS, PROHIBITION HAPPENED AND THE WINE-BASED SOUP WENT OUT OF STYLE. IN ADDITION TO NATURAL PREDATION, THIS CENTURY POSES OTHER THREATS, THEIR HABITAT (THE BRACKISH WATERS OF THE MARSH) IS BEING DESTROYED, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REACH HIGHER GROUND TO LAY THEIR EGGS THEY'RE RUN OVER BY CARS, THEY DROWN IN CRAB POTS, AND THEY'RE AGAIN BEING KILLED IN SOME STATES AND EXPORTED TO THE ASIAN MARKET FOR TURTLE SOUP. THE COMBINATION MULTIPLE THREATS AND LOW REPRODUCTIVE RATES HAS RESULTED IN THE TERRAPINS BEING PUT ON THE STATE OF GEORGIA'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTED SPECIES LIST. WE RESCUE, OR RECEIVE, SICK, INJURED; ADULT AND BABY TERRAPINS, PROVIDE TRIAGE OR TRANSPORT THEM TO THE GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER, THEN TAG AND RELEASE THE BACK INTO THE MARSH. WHEN GRAVID FEMALES ARE KILLED BY CARS ON THE CAUSEWAY, WE EXTRACT THE EGGS AND TRANSPORT THEM TO GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR INCUBATION. LASTLY, WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TEDS FOR CRAB TRAPS. REMOVAL OF LIVE ANIMALS ON THE BEACH CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND PASSED AN ORDINANCE (33-2011) IN 2011 PROHIBITING THE REMOVAL OF LIVE ANIMALS FROM THE BEACH. THE CENTER PROVIDES AN ANNUAL TRAINING TO THE TIPD AND OCEAN RESCUE THAT HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LAW AND TEACHES THEM HOW TO IDENTIFY THE ANIMALS MOST OFTEN TAKEN (BY THE GROCERY BAG FULL) FROM THE BEACH. WE ARE PLANNING TO DESIGN AND PRODUCE SIGNAGE FOR POSTING AT THE CROSSOVERS. MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK AND RESPONDS TO STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS, BOTH DEAD AND ALIVE, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DNR WHO HAS LISTED THE SCIENCE CENTER ON THEIR STANDING AGREEMENT WITH NOAA'S NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE. IN RESPONSE TO A DEAD ANIMAL WE RETRIEVED THE ANIMAL, AND EITHER SECURE IT FOR DNR TO PICK UP OR TAKE TISSUE AND TEETH SAMPLES ALONG WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA, WHICH IS SENT TO DNR. WE HAVEN'T YET HAD A LIVE STRANDING THAT NEEDED TO BE RETRIEVED. THUS FAR OUR ONLY LIVE STRANDING HAS BEEN A MANATEE STUCK IN A TIDE POOL, WHICH WE SIMPLY WAITED OUT WITH THE ANIMAL. SEA/SHOREBIRD RESCUE ISLAND VISITORS FREQUENTLY COME ACROSS SICK, INJURED, OR HATCHLING SEA- SHOREBIRDS AND EITHER CALL IN A REPORT OR BRING IT TO THE CENTER. WE TAKE- IN THE BIRD AND EITHER TRANSPORT IT TO A VET FOR PRO BONO TREATMENT OR WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR FOR REHABILITATION. WE DO NOT ADVERTISE THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T HANDLE AN INCREASE IN REQUESTS. OUR PLAN IS TO CREATE AND TRAIN A VOLUNTEER GROUP TO SUPPORT THE WORK. TYBEE SEA TURTLE PROJECT THE TYBEE SEA TURTLE PROJECT IS A CONSERVATION PROGRAM OF THE TYBEE ISLAND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER AND MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' GEORGIA SEA TURTLE COOPERATIVE. PROJECT VOLUNTEERS PROTECT THE ISLAND'S NESTING SEA TURTLES AND THEIR HATCHLINGS BY MONITORING SEA TURTLE ACTIVITY. DURING THE NESTING SEASON, MAY 1ST TO OCTOBER 31ST. , VOLUNTEER COOPERATORS CONDUCT DAILY DAWN PATROLS (6 A.M.) ALONG THE BEACH. THE PATROL CONSISTS OF WALKING THE ENTIRE THREE MILES OF TYBEE'S BEACHES AND LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF SEA TURTLE ACTIVITY. EARLY IN THE SEASON PATROLS ARE LOOKING AT THE SAND FOR SEA TURTLE CRAWLS (TRACKS) THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT A SEA TURTLE MAY HAVE NESTED. (MALE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES LEAVE THE LAND AS A HATCHLING AND NEVER RETURN.) SOMETIMES, A TURTLE WILL CRAWL UP THE BEACH AND NOT NEST, THIS IS KNOWN AS A FALSE CRAWL. WHEN A CRAWL IS LOCATED THE SEA TURTLE PROJECT COORDINATOR VERIFIES THE PRESENCE OF A NEST BY LOCATING THE EGGS IN THE NEST CAVITY. WHEN A VIABLE NEST IS CONFIRMED, IT IS ROPED OFF AND POSTED. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF INCUBATION IS 60 DAYS AND SO OBSERVATION OF THE NESTS BECOMES A PART OF THE DAILY DAWN PATROL. AS A NEST'S HATCHING TIME APPROACHES, COOPERATORS ARE ASSIGNED TO "NEST SIT" DURING THE NIGHT UNTIL THAT NEST HAS HATCHED. WHEN A NEST HATCHES, THE HATCHLING NUMBER IS ESTIMATED BY THE NUMBER OF TRACKS FROM THE NEST TO THE OCEAN. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE HATCH, THE NESTS ARE EXCAVATED AND EGG SHELLS ARE COUNTED TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF EGGS LAID, AND OF THOSE LAID, HOW MANY ACTUALLY HATCHED. NESTING DATA IS REPORTED TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (GEORGIA DNR). LIGHTS OUT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE LIGHTS OUT PROGRAM IS TO FACILITATE SEA TURTLE NESTING ACTIVITY BY REDUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT SHINING ON THE BEACH DURING NESTING SEASON. OUR STRATEGY IS TO INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR BY RAISING AWARENESS. WE DESIGN MATERIALS FOR THE LIGHTS OUT CAMPAIGN THAT BRING ATTENTION TO THE DATES OF THE SEA TURTLES' NESTING SEASON AND EDUCATE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND TOURISTS ON THE IMPACT THAT LIGHT HAS ON NESTING TURTLES AND HATCHLINGS. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONDUCT MONTHLY BEACHFRONT LIGHTING SURVEYS TO COLLECT DATA THAT ILLUSTRATES TRENDS AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND NESTING ACTIVITY ON THE ISLAND. ADDITIONALLY, THE DATA ENABLES THE CENTER TO CONCENTRATE EDUCATION EFFORTS AND COTI TO CONCENTRATE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN PROBLEM AREAS. SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK (STSSN) THE STSSN COLLECTS INFORMATION ON AND DOCUMENTS STRANDINGS OF MARINE TURTLES. THE NETWORK ENCOMPASSES THE COASTAL AREAS OF THE EIGHTEEN STATE REGION FROM MAINE THROUGH TEXAS, AND INCLUDES PORTIONS OF THE U.S. CARIBBEAN. DATA ARE COMPILED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF NETWORK PARTICIPANTS WHO DOCUMENT MARINE TURTLE STRANDINGS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS AND CONTRIBUTE THOSE DATA TO THE CENTRALIZED STSSN DATA BASE. GA DNR MONITORS MARINE TURTLE MORTALITY THROUGH THE STSSN AND THE SCIENCE CENTER PARTICIPATES IN THE EFFORT BY RESPONDING TO CITIZEN NOTIFICATIONS FOR STRANDED SEA TURTLE SIGHTINGS. THE SEA TURTLE PROJECT COORDINATOR IS THE PRIMARY RESPONSE PERSON OFTEN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE US COAST GUARD. DEAD SEA TURTLES ARE RETRIEVED, PHOTOGRAPHED, AND A DATA SHEET IS COMPLETED. THE ANIMAL IS STORED IN OUR FREEZER PENDING DNR PICK-UP. DNR THEN PERFORMS A NECROPSY TO EVALUATE CAUSES OF MORTALITY AND GATHER OTHER DATA. SEA TURTLE STRANDINGS ARE THE PRIMARY INDEX FOR THREATS TO SEA TURTLES IN COASTAL WATERS. GEORGIA LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE GENETIC PROFILING STUDY WE PARTICIPATE IN THE COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF GEORGIA DNR AND UGA'S STUDY ON LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE GENETIC PROFILING. GEORGIA'S LOGGERHEADS ONLY SPEND A BRIEF TIME OUT OF THE WATER, BUT ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON THE BEACHES AND NEAR-SHORE WATERS TO REPRODUCE. USING A SINGLE EGG FROM EACH NEST LAID ON THE GEORGIA COAST, THE STUDY IS COMPILING A GENETIC FINGERPRINT OF ALL THE LOGGERHEADS NESTING ON GEORGIA'S BEACHES. ONE OF THE MANY DISCOVERIES OF THIS STUDY IS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 20 MOTHER/DAUGHTER PAIRS NESTING ON OUR BARRIER BEACHES. BECAUSE IT TAKES AT LEAST 30 YEARS FOR A LOGGERHEAD TO BEGIN NESTING, IT MEANS THAT NO LESS THAN 20 OF OUR TURTLES ARE A MINIMUM OF 60 YEARS OLD, NESTING ALONGSIDE THEIR 30-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTERS. THIS DATA WILL BE USEFUL IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT SEA TURTLES. ISLAND VISITOR PROGRAMS WALKS, TALKS & TREKS(ALL ARE ONE HOUR) BEACH WALKS - NORTH AND SOUTH BEACHES JOIN A MARINE SCIENCE EDUCATOR ON AN ONE-HOUR GUIDED DISCOVERY WALK ALONG TYBEE'S BEACH TO LEARN ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA'S TIDES, DUNES, AND THE WILDLIFE THAT LIVE IN AND AROUND THE OCEAN. TURTLE TALKS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AMAZING LIVES OF SEA TURTLES LEARN ABOUT ANATOMY AND NATURAL ADAPTATIONS, THEN STROLL ON THE BEACH TO DISCUSS NESTING HABITAT AND TYBEE'S 715222 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 1 0 36 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 12 12 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true false false false GA X X CHANTAL AUDRAN 9127865917 27 MEDDIN DRIVE TYBEE ISLAND GA 31328 MARIA PROCOPIO FORMER EXEC 30.00 X 54419 0 18560 CHANTAL AUDRAN EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 43838 0 8577 JIM ALEXANDER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NANCY DAVES DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DOUG DUCH PRESIDENT 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JAMES L BENTLEY III ESQ DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JEANNIE HUTTON VICE PRESIDE 2.00 X X 0 0 0 DAVID MAKEL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CAROL PRIDE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK REED DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KAREN ROBERTSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KATHRYN WILLIAMS SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 RUTH WHITLEY WILSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KATIE WOHLUST DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 98257 27137 false false false 141087 141087 GALLERY ADMISSIONS 304343 304343 GROUP PROGRAMS 151024 151024 MEMBERSHIPS 43090 43090 SEA CAMP 34186 34186 WALKS, TALKS, & TREKS 14301 14301 546944 544 5247 -4703 -4703 -4703 246134 96714 149420 149420 MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 3948 3948 3948 836696 700312 -4703 125394 73355 32900 19139 344537 344537 20468 20468 34849 31016 2439 1394 10702 10702 20756 20756 10190 10190 21536 19845 1057 634 1055 1055 79399 79399 33865 18343 15365 157 SUPPLIES 95365 77623 17742 BAD DEBT EXPENSE 92333 92333 CREDIT CARD FEES 19610 18066 1544 EQUIPMENT RENT 12403 12403 38452 37178 394 880 960914 715222 183446 62246 476961 269225 387842 139934 22629 38849 1017700 175943 531931 841757 1419363 1289765 20985 28167 5502 7504 15320 756 41807 36427 X 736885 1076562 640671 176776 1377556 1253338 1419363 1289765 X -124218 X false true X true false X 51419 337800 553304 585065 141087 1668675 33840 33840 33840 101520 85259 371640 587144 585065 141087 1770195 396768 1373427 1770195 2539187 0.77590 0.78480 X 51419 337800 553304 585065 141087 1668675 535519 571428 177826 457388 797026 2539187 33840 33840 33840 101520 620778 943068 764970 1042453 938113 4309382 4309382 620778 943068 764970 1042453 938113 4309382 1.00000 1.00000 0.00000 0.00000 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 210920 8885 202035 444822 102672 342150 361958 64386 297572 841757 SALES TAX PAYABLE 756 756 1068400 134990 96714 231704 836696 836696 1192618 134990 96714 231704 960914 960914 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XI, LINE 2D COST OF GOODS SOLD IN FINANCIAL STMT EXPENSES 96,714 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XII, LINE 2D COST OF GOODS SOLD INCLUDED IN FINANCIAL STMT EXPS 96,714 FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A AUDIENCE SERVED IN 2022 THE CENTER SERVED 5,339 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE ISLAND'S VISITORS WE OFFER: HOUR-LONG WALKS, TALKS & TREKS: BEACH WALKS, TURTLE TALKS, AND MARSH TREKS. VISITORS EXPLORE OUR COASTAL GEORGIA GALLERIES-DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY SCIENCE CENTER STAFF MEMBERS, THE GALLERY IS 4,000 SQUARE FEET, BUT PACKED WITH INFORMATION ON COASTAL GEORGIA'S NATURAL RESOURCES. CART EXPLORATION PROGRAMS ARE SCHEDULED IN THE GALLERY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR NINE WEEKS OF SEA CAMP: COASTAL KIDS OCEAN ADVENTURE - OFFERS SUMMER FUN FOR THE KIDS. FOR GROUPS WE OFFER: GIRL SCOUTS - PARTICIPATE IN THE COASTAL BADGE PROGRAM. CUB AND BOY SCOUTS - PARTICIPATE IN BARRIER ISLAND PATCH PROGRAM OR OCEANOGRAPHY MERIT BADGE PROGRAM. SCHOOL GROUPS, PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE - PARTICIPATE IN OUR COASTAL CLASSROOM, SIDEWALK TO THE SEA, AND COASTAL SCIENTIST PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH OUR OCEAN OUTREACH PROGRAM WE EXTEND OUR EDUCATIONAL REACH AT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS. CONSERVATION PROGRAMS OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE; THE TYBEE SEA TURTLE PROJECT, DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN R&R, SHORE/SEABIRD RESCUE, AND WE PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK AND SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK. CONSERVATION DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN R&R (RESCUE & RELEASE) DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS TAKE A LONG TIME TO MATURE. THEY LIVE FOR 25-40 YEARS AND DON'T START NESTING UNTIL THEY'RE SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS OLD. JUST PRIOR TO THE 1920S DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS WERE HUNTED TO THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, BECAUSE IT WAS FASHIONABLE, IN AMERICAN, TO EAT A WINE-BASED TURTLE SOUP. FORTUNATELY FOR THE TERRAPINS, PROHIBITION HAPPENED AND THE WINE-BASED SOUP WENT OUT OF STYLE. IN ADDITION TO NATURAL PREDATION, THIS CENTURY POSES OTHER THREATS, THEIR HABITAT (THE BRACKISH WATERS OF THE MARSH) IS BEING DESTROYED, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REACH HIGHER GROUND TO LAY THEIR EGGS THEY'RE RUN OVER BY CARS, THEY DROWN IN CRAB POTS, AND THEY'RE AGAIN BEING KILLED IN SOME STATES AND EXPORTED TO THE ASIAN MARKET FOR TURTLE SOUP. THE COMBINATION MULTIPLE THREATS AND LOW REPRODUCTIVE RATES HAS RESULTED IN THE TERRAPINS BEING PUT ON THE STATE OF GEORGIA'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTED SPECIES LIST. WE RESCUE, OR RECEIVE, SICK, INJURED; ADULT AND BABY TERRAPINS, PROVIDE TRIAGE OR TRANSPORT THEM TO THE GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER, THEN TAG AND RELEASE THE BACK INTO THE MARSH. WHEN GRAVID FEMALES ARE KILLED BY CARS ON THE CAUSEWAY, WE EXTRACT THE EGGS AND TRANSPORT THEM TO GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR INCUBATION. LASTLY, WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TEDS FOR CRAB TRAPS. REMOVAL OF LIVE ANIMALS ON THE BEACH CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND PASSED AN ORDINANCE (33-2011) IN 2011 PROHIBITING THE REMOVAL OF LIVE ANIMALS FROM THE BEACH. THE CENTER PROVIDES AN ANNUAL TRAINING TO THE TIPD AND OCEAN RESCUE THAT HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LAW AND TEACHES THEM HOW TO IDENTIFY THE ANIMALS MOST OFTEN TAKEN (BY THE GROCERY BAG FULL) FROM THE BEACH. WE ARE PLANNING TO DESIGN AND PRODUCE SIGNAGE FOR POSTING AT THE CROSSOVERS. MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK AND RESPONDS TO STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS, BOTH DEAD AND ALIVE, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DNR WHO HAS LISTED THE SCIENCE CENTER ON THEIR STANDING AGREEMENT WITH NOAA'S NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE. IN RESPONSE TO A DEAD ANIMAL WE RETRIEVED THE ANIMAL, AND EITHER SECURE IT FOR DNR TO PICK UP OR TAKE TISSUE AND TEETH SAMPLES ALONG WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA, WHICH IS SENT TO DNR. WE HAVEN'T YET HAD A LIVE STRANDING THAT NEEDED TO BE RETRIEVED. THUS FAR OUR ONLY LIVE STRANDING HAS BEEN A MANATEE STUCK IN A TIDE POOL, WHICH WE SIMPLY WAITED OUT WITH THE ANIMAL. SEA/SHOREBIRD RESCUE ISLAND VISITORS FREQUENTLY COME ACROSS SICK, INJURED, OR HATCHLING SEA- SHOREBIRDS AND EITHER CALL IN A REPORT OR BRING IT TO THE CENTER. WE TAKE- IN THE BIRD AND EITHER TRANSPORT IT TO A VET FOR PRO BONO TREATMENT OR WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR FOR REHABILITATION. WE DO NOT ADVERTISE THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T HANDLE AN INCREASE IN REQUESTS. OUR PLAN IS TO CREATE AND TRAIN A VOLUNTEER GROUP TO SUPPORT THE WORK. TYBEE SEA TURTLE PROJECT THE TYBEE SEA TURTLE PROJECT IS A CONSERVATION PROGRAM OF THE TYBEE ISLAND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER AND MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' GEORGIA SEA TURTLE COOPERATIVE. PROJECT VOLUNTEERS PROTECT THE ISLAND'S NESTING SEA TURTLES AND THEIR HATCHLINGS BY MONITORING SEA TURTLE ACTIVITY. DURING THE NESTING SEASON, MAY 1ST TO OCTOBER 31ST. , VOLUNTEER COOPERATORS CONDUCT DAILY DAWN PATROLS (6 A.M.) ALONG THE BEACH. THE PATROL CONSISTS OF WALKING THE ENTIRE THREE MILES OF TYBEE'S BEACHES AND LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF SEA TURTLE ACTIVITY. EARLY IN THE SEASON PATROLS ARE LOOKING AT THE SAND FOR SEA TURTLE CRAWLS (TRACKS) THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT A SEA TURTLE MAY HAVE NESTED. (MALE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES LEAVE THE LAND AS A HATCHLING AND NEVER RETURN.) SOMETIMES, A TURTLE WILL CRAWL UP THE BEACH AND NOT NEST, THIS IS KNOWN AS A FALSE CRAWL. WHEN A CRAWL IS LOCATED THE SEA TURTLE PROJECT COORDINATOR VERIFIES THE PRESENCE OF A NEST BY LOCATING THE EGGS IN THE NEST CAVITY. WHEN A VIABLE NEST IS CONFIRMED, IT IS ROPED OFF AND POSTED. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF INCUBATION IS 60 DAYS AND SO OBSERVATION OF THE NESTS BECOMES A PART OF THE DAILY DAWN PATROL. AS A NEST'S HATCHING TIME APPROACHES, COOPERATORS ARE ASSIGNED TO "NEST SIT" DURING THE NIGHT UNTIL THAT NEST HAS HATCHED. WHEN A NEST HATCHES, THE HATCHLING NUMBER IS ESTIMATED BY THE NUMBER OF TRACKS FROM THE NEST TO THE OCEAN. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE HATCH, THE NESTS ARE EXCAVATED AND EGG SHELLS ARE COUNTED TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF EGGS LAID, AND OF THOSE LAID, HOW MANY ACTUALLY HATCHED. NESTING DATA IS REPORTED TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (GEORGIA DNR). LIGHTS OUT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE LIGHTS OUT PROGRAM IS TO FACILITATE SEA TURTLE NESTING ACTIVITY BY REDUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT SHINING ON THE BEACH DURING NESTING SEASON. OUR STRATEGY IS TO INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR BY RAISING AWARENESS. WE DESIGN MATERIALS FOR THE LIGHTS OUT CAMPAIGN THAT BRING ATTENTION TO THE DATES OF THE SEA TURTLES' NESTING SEASON AND EDUCATE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND TOURISTS ON THE IMPACT THAT LIGHT HAS ON NESTING TURTLES AND HATCHLINGS. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONDUCT MONTHLY BEACHFRONT LIGHTING SURVEYS TO COLLECT DATA THAT ILLUSTRATES TRENDS AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND NESTING ACTIVITY ON THE ISLAND. ADDITIONALLY, THE DATA ENABLES THE CENTER TO CONCENTRATE EDUCATION EFFORTS AND COTI TO CONCENTRATE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN PROBLEM AREAS. SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK (STSSN) THE STSSN COLLECTS INFORMATION ON AND DOCUMENTS STRANDINGS OF MARINE TURTLES. THE NETWORK ENCOMPASSES THE COASTAL AREAS OF THE EIGHTEEN STATE REGION FROM MAINE THROUGH TEXAS, AND INCLUDES PORTIONS OF THE U.S. CARIBBEAN. DATA ARE COMPILED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF NETWORK PARTICIPANTS WHO DOCUMENT MARINE TURTLE STRANDINGS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS AND CONTRIBUTE THOSE DATA TO THE CENTRALIZED STSSN DATA BASE. GA DNR MONITORS MARINE TURTLE MORTALITY THROUGH THE STSSN AND THE SCIENCE CENTER PARTICIPATES IN THE EFFORT BY RESPONDING TO CITIZEN NOTIFICATIONS FOR STRANDED SEA TURTLE SIGHTINGS. THE SEA TURTLE PROJECT COORDINATOR IS THE PRIMARY RESPONSE PERSON OFTEN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE US COAST GUARD. DEAD SEA TURTLES ARE RETRIEVED, PHOTOGRAPHED, AND A DATA SHEET IS COMPLETED. THE ANIMAL IS STORED IN OUR FREEZER PENDING DNR PICK-UP. DNR THEN PERFORMS A NECROPSY TO EVALUATE CAUSES OF MORTALITY AND GATHER OTHER DATA. SEA TURTLE STRANDINGS ARE THE PRIMARY INDEX FOR THREATS TO SEA TURTLES IN COASTAL WATERS. GEORGIA LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE GENETIC PROFILING STUDY WE PARTICIPATE IN THE COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF GEORGIA DNR AND UGA'S STUDY ON LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE GENETIC PROFILING. GEORGIA'S LOGGERHEADS ONLY SPEND A BRIEF TIME OUT OF THE WATER, BUT ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON THE BEACHES AND NEAR-SHORE WATERS TO REPRODUCE. USING A SINGLE EGG FROM EACH NEST LAID ON THE GEORGIA COAST, THE STUDY IS COMPILING A GENETIC FINGERPRINT OF ALL THE LOGGERHEADS NESTING ON GEORGIA'S BEACHES. ONE OF THE MANY DISCOVERIES OF THIS STUDY IS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 20 MOTHER/DAUGHTER PAIRS NESTING ON OUR BARRIER BEACHES. BECAUSE IT TAKES AT LEAST 30 YEARS FOR A LOGGERHEAD TO BEGIN NESTING, IT MEANS THAT NO LESS THAN 20 OF OUR TURTLES ARE A MINIMUM OF 60 YEARS OLD, NESTING ALONGSIDE THEIR 30-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTERS. THIS DATA WILL BE USEFUL IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT SEA TURTLES. ISLAND VISITOR PROGRAMS WALKS, TALKS & TREKS(ALL ARE ONE HOUR) BEACH WALKS - NORTH AND SOUTH BEACHES JOIN A MARINE SCIENCE EDUCATOR ON AN ONE-HOUR GUIDED DISCOVERY WALK ALONG TYBEE'S BEACH TO LEARN ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA'S TIDES, DUNES, AND THE WILDLIFE THAT LIVE IN AND AROUND THE OCEAN. TURTLE TALKS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AMAZING LIVES OF SEA TURTLES LEARN ABOUT ANATOMY AND NATURAL ADAPTATIONS, THEN STROLL ON THE BEACH TO DISCUSS NESTING HABITAT AND TYBEE'S FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C EACH YEAR, AT THE JANUARY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EACH DIRECTOR SHALL ANNUALLY SIGN A STATEMENT AFFIRMING THAT HE/SHE: 1.HAS RECEIVED A COPY OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY; 2.HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE POLICY; 3.HAS AGREED TO COMPLY WITH THE POLICY; 4.UNDERSTANDS THAT TYBEE ISLAND MARINE SCIENCE FOUNDATION IS CHARITABLE AND IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS FEDERAL TAX EXEMPTION MUST ENGAGE PRIMARILY IN ACTIVITIES, WHICH ACCOMPLISH ONE OR MORE OF ITS TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSES. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AT THE FOUNDATION LOCATION ON TYBEE ISLAND. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 COST OF GOODS SOLD IN FINANCIAL STMT EXPENSES 96,714 COST OF GOODS SOLD INCLUDED IN FINANCIAL STMT EXPS -96,714