Sea turtle nesting up, but not much

BRUNSWICK - As the loggerhead sea turtle nesting season nears an end, scientists have documented about 1,000 nests along the Georgia coast - up 17 percent over the 850 reported last year. <br> <br> The numbers, however, are not enough to determine whether the protected species is on the rebound. <br> <br> About 30 percent of the state&#39;s loggerhead nests have yet to hatch, according to Mark Dodd, wildlife biologist and sea turtle program coordinator for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s essentially going to be an average nesting year,&#39;&#39; Dodd said. ``That&#39;s not bad news, but it&#39;s not good news either. We&#39;re looking for signs that the loggerhead population is recovering, but there is no indication right now of any increase in our nesting population.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Loggerheads are among five state and federally protected species of sea turtle that migrate and nest annually offshore on beaches in Georgia and Florida. <br> <br> Southeast Georgia barrier islands, including Cumberland Island with 183 and Jekyll Island, despite seaside development, with 127, were among the top nesting sites in the state, Dodd said. <br> <br> Dodd attributed the recent increase in nesting on Jekyll to enforcement of the beachside lighting ordinance and a turtle education program.