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    Nesting calendar

    When Olive Ridleys nest on this coast

    Nesting December to March, at night, on the Coromandel coast. Hatchlings February to April.

    Dates as publishedBook a walk
    Nesting window
    December to MarchOne female at a time.
    Hatchlings emerging
    February to AprilAt night or before first light.
    Incubation
    45-60 daysRoughly. Warmer sand hatches faster.
    She comes up
    After darkMostly late.

    The whole year

    The year at a glance

    NestingDecember to March
    HatchingFebruary to April
    Turtle WalkDecember to March
    Hatchling FarewellFebruary to April
    International Coastal CleanupAll year
    Awareness SessionsAll year

    Running Not running

    Nesting season
    December to March on the Coromandel coast, including Chennai. Females come ashore at night.
    Time of night
    After dark, mostly late. Walks run past midnight; each start time is on the walk page.
    Incubation
    About 45 to 60 days. Warmer sand hatches faster and produces more females.
    Hatchlings out
    February to April, at night or before first light.
    Turtle Walk
    December to March, on published nights only.
    Hatchling Farewell
    February to April. They fill fast.
    Peak weeks
    Not published. They change every year.
    Arribada
    Not on this coast. Mass nesting happens in Odisha. Here, turtles nest alone.

    Month by month

    On the Coromandel coast

    1. November

      Open to joinCleanups and sessions

      On the sand
      No nesting yet. The north-east monsoon is still on the coast.
      What we are doing
      Beach surveys, volunteer briefings and training. Cleanups continue.

    2. December

      Open to joinWalks open

      On the sand
      First nests, one female at a time, at night.
      What we are doing
      Walks begin. Night patrols log nests and tracks.

    3. January

      Open to joinWalks, cleanups, sessions

      On the sand
      Nesting continues.
      What we are doing
      Walks on published nights. Patrols log every night they run.

    4. February

      Open to joinWalks and farewells

      On the sand
      Nesting continues. The first December clutches hatch.
      What we are doing
      Walks continue. First hatchling farewells.

    5. March

      Open to joinWalks ending, farewells running

      On the sand
      Last nests. Peak hatching, mostly from January clutches.
      What we are doing
      Walks wind down. Farewells at their most frequent.

    6. April

      Open to joinFarewells while clutches remain

      On the sand
      No new nests. The last clutches hatch.
      What we are doing
      Final farewells and the season report.

    7. May to October

      Open to joinEverything except walks and farewells

      On the sand
      Turtles are offshore. Nothing on the sand.
      What we are doing
      Cleanups, sessions for schools, colleges, companies and fishing communities, and training.

    Two windows

    Nesting and hatching

    Nesting

    December to March

    Females come ashore after dark, lay above the tide line and leave within an hour. This is when turtle walks run.

    Hatching

    February to April

    December nests hatch from February; the last March nests hatch in April. This is when hatchling farewells run.

    The two overlap in February and early March. Those weeks fill first.

    Why the dates move

    Warm sand speeds up hatching; cool sand slows it. The north-east monsoon decides how much dry sand is left in December, and no dry sand means no nests. Storms move sand overnight.

    With the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Nest handling, relocation and hatchery work happen under their authority.

    All season

    No white light on the beach at night: no torch, flash or phone screen. A nesting female will go back without laying, and hatchlings will walk the wrong way.

    The full field code

    Planning

    How to be there

    1. Pick your windowNesting: December to March. Hatching: February to April. Both are possible only in February and early March, and rarely on the same night.
    2. Watch the events pageNights are published when the beach, tide and team allow. There is no fixed weekly slot.
    3. Book when it opensWalks fill. Farewells fill faster and are announced at short notice, because clutches hatch on their own schedule.
    4. Expect nothingYou can walk several kilometres and see no turtle. That is a normal night. There is no guarantee.
    5. Read the night codeNo white light, no flash, touch nothing, stay behind the leader, silence near a nest.
    6. Dress for the beach at 1amClosed shoes, full sleeves, water. Nothing white, nothing that lights up.

    Off-season: International Coastal Cleanup - Monthly sweeps, plus International Coastal Cleanup Day every September. Awareness Sessions - Schools, colleges, corporates, fisher communities. We come to you. Both run all year and need no experience.

    Next

    Pick a window

    • the flagship - December to March

      Turtle Walk

      Guided night walks on nesting beaches, December to March.

    • dusk release, family-friendly - February to April

      Hatchling Farewell

      Watch the hatchlings reach the sea at 5 pm.

    • ICC - many beaches, one morning - all year

      International Coastal Cleanup

      Monthly sweeps, plus International Coastal Cleanup Day every September.

    Questions

    Common questions

    When do Olive Ridleys nest in Chennai?
    December to March, at night, along the Coromandel coast including Chennai. They nest one at a time. There is no fixed date.
    What time of night do Olive Ridleys come up to nest?
    After dark, usually late. Walks run past midnight. Each start time is on the turtle walk page.
    When do the hatchlings come out in Chennai?
    About 45 to 60 days after laying, so February to April.
    Which month is best for a turtle walk?
    January and February give the best odds of a nesting turtle; February and March, of hatchlings. We do not publish a peak month because it changes every year.
    Can I see a nesting turtle and a hatchling release on the same night?
    Rarely, in February or early March. Nesting is late at night, farewells are around 5 pm, usually on different beaches. Do not plan around it.
    Does the season shift from year to year?
    The window stays December to March, but the busy weeks move with sand temperature, the monsoon, storms and how much dry beach remains.
    Do Olive Ridleys nest all along the coast or on one beach?
    All along the coast, spread out. That is why a walk covers ground.
    Are there turtle walks in the off-season?
    No. From May to October there are no walks or farewells. Cleanups and sessions run all year; see the events page.
    How long does one nesting turtle stay on the beach?
    Usually under an hour. She digs a chamber up to about half a metre deep, lays about a hundred eggs, covers the nest and returns to the sea. She does not come back to it.

    Walk and farewell dates

    Walk and farewell dates are on the events page.

    Dates as publishedAbout the Olive Ridley