Last Wednesday night 37 tiny flatback turtle hatchlings flippered themselves out of their sandy nest just a metre or so from the main road between the old helipad and Coconuts at Nelly Bay.

The nest was layed by the mother flatback on December 6 last year making the incubation time 46 days.

According to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ranger in Charge on Magnetic Island, Patrick Centurino, the nest location was cordoned off after a member of the public identified where the turtle had layed. "We normally place a small pink ribbon into the nest to identify the hole" he said, "But we weren't there at the time" he added.

The top of the nest had a small holding enclosure placed over it to protect the turtles from venturing onto the road and in case they surfaced when nobody was in about to keep them from the traffic. However, as it turned out, the turtles surfaced just outside their enclosure at about 7.30pm and their seaward dash of about 25 metres was only witnessed by a couple of passers-by.

Patrick told Magnetic Times, "The turtles entered the water across an area of beach about 15 metres wide."

The following morning Ranger Nathan Winn inspected the nest site and counted 37 successful hatchlings and a further 7 undeveloped eggs.

Patrick Centurino urged locals to contact the Rangers Office on 4778 5378 if any further nests were sighted, especially near populated areas.

Another turtle nest was reported near the Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Clubhouse at about the same time as the Nelly Bay nest. It is unknown if those turtles have hatched yet.