Skip to main content

Tag: sea turtle nest

Turtle, bird nesting seasons in full swing

Turtle, bird nesting seasons in full swing

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Kristen Mazzarella said the past week has been a strong one for local sea turtles and shorebirds.

“There was a great increase in the number of (turtle) crawls over last week,” she said, with the number of nests increasing from six to 48.

A colony of least terns also is doing well, according to Mazzarella.

“The number of nests in the colony has increased to 12 this week” from four last week, she said of the imperiled shorebirds.

She reminded beachgoers to fill holes in the sand and level sandcastles before leaving the beach, so sea turtles do not get trapped, and steer clear of the posted bird nesting area.

On Tuesday, May 28, Turtle Watch will present a Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts presentation at noon at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

 

TURTLE TIPS

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:

• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

• Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.

• Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally dig into an unmarked nest. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.

• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 227.

• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.

• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.

• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.

• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.

• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

 

NESTING NEWS

Turtle nests laid: 48 (Record: 544 in 2019)

False crawls: 39 (Record: 831 in 2010)

Nests hatched: 0 (Record: 453 in 2022)

Hatchlings hatched: 0 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)

Hatchling disorientations: 0

Adult disorientations: 0

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

Turtle Watch volunteers find season’s first sea turtle nest

Turtle Watch volunteers find season’s first sea turtle nest

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Volunteers with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring have found and marked the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the season on the Island.

“We are excited to start the nesting season on Anna Maria Island and look forward to a productive season protecting nests and educating the public,” Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said in a statement.

Under a directive from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Turtle Watch volunteers began patrolling local beaches on April 15, although the official start of sea turtle nesting season is May 1.

Beginning early in the morning, volunteers monitor beaches daily for sea turtle activity.

Turtle Watch breaks down nesting data into three geographical sections. The first is from the Longboat Key Bridge north to Manatee Beach, the second is from Manatee Beach north to Bean Point, and the third covers bayside beaches.

Turtle Watch reminds residents and visitors of the following dos and don’ts:

DO:

• Shield or turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach and close drapes after dark;

• Remove all beach furniture and toys from the beach at night;

• Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles that may impede hatchlings on their way to the water;

• Place trash in its proper place;

• Keep your distance from posted nest sites;

• If you encounter a nesting turtle, remain quiet and observe from a distance;

• Call AMITW at 941-301-8434 or FWC at 888-404-3922 if you find a turtle (adult or hatchling) in distress; and

• Notify local law enforcement if you see anyone disturbing a turtle, hatchlings or nest site.

DO NOT:

• Use flashlights, cellphones, flash photography or fishing lamps on the beach;

• Encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged;

• Use fireworks on the beach; or

• Approach nesting turtles or emerging hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles.

For more information on ways to help protect sea turtles, visit islandturtlewatch.com.