This week, with its hint of coolness in both the breeze and the Gulf of Mexico, ushers in the last month of sea turtle nesting season, which ends on Oct. 31.

As the season winds down, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shore Bird Monitoring Director Suzi Fox will recap the highlights at a free, public turtle talk on Monday, Oct. 4.

Out of 138 nests dug by loggerhead sea turtles on Anna Maria Island since the season began on May 1, more than 100 have hatched, she said, including one last week that was thought to have been a false crawl – a sea turtle’s aborted attempt to dig a nest and lay her eggs.

So far, nearly 5,500 hatchlings have made it to the Gulf of Mexico, with 19 nests disoriented by lights.

One turtle with a satellite tag, nicknamed Longboat Lulu, was spotted off Longboat Pass earlier this month, leading Fox to alert Turtle Watch volunteers to possible late-season nesting activity.

“Wouldn’t that be fun!” she said.

Fox’s presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation at 42nd Street and Second Avenue in Holmes Beach.

Part of Festival sARTee, the event is sponsored by the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island, which will display turtle artwork in its storefront window during October in honor of the end of turtle season.

For more information, contact Joan Voyles at 778-1788.