The Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the habitats and migration routes of Sea Turtle and other marine animals on the Outer Banks of North Carolina from the Virginia border to the southern end of the town of Nags Head, NC. During the sea turtle nesting season (May through August), NEST volunteers conduct daily morning patrols along 53 miles of ocean-side coastline, to mark and protect freshly laid nests. NEST volunteers also monitor nests during incubation and ensure the emerging hatchlings make it to the sea successfully. NEST volunteers have been collecting sea turtle nesting data since 1981.