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Tag: Tour de Turtles

Sea Turtle Conservancy to release turtle

Sea Turtle Conservancy to release turtle

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Sea Turtle Conservancy plans to release a satellite-tagged loggerhead sea turtle after it nests on Anna Maria Island as part of the annual Tour de Turtles event.

The release is scheduled on Monday, June 24 at 8:30 a.m. with a backup date of Tuesday, June 25, depending on when a turtle nests. The location will be announced on the morning of the release on the Sea Turtle Conservancy Facebook page and its website at https://conserveturtles.org/.

Attendees are encouraged to come early to see the nesting turtle and talk to the turtle team. In previous years, the release has taken place on Coquina Beach.

The Conservancy is partnering with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Hurricane Hanks for the release.

The Tour de Turtles follows the migration of sea turtles from their nesting beaches to their foraging grounds from the time of their release until the end of October, the end of turtle nesting season.

The launch of the Tour de Turtles corresponds with World Sea Turtle Day on June 16, the birthdate of Conservancy founder Dr. Archie Carr.

Where’s Suzi?

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

In the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which ended on Nov. 1, loggerhead sea turtle Suzi finished in fifth place in a field of 11 sea turtles, having traveled 1,355 miles. Sea turtle Bella took first with 1,534 miles. Suzi was released from Coquina Beach after nesting and being satellite-tagged on June 27. She soon headed to the Yucatan Peninsula, where she has remained for several weeks. Suzi swam in the race to bring attention to the cause of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings. She was named in honor of Suzi Fox, the late executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, which sponsored her along with the Coastal Wildlife Club and Waterline Marina and Resort.

Where's Bortie Too

Where’s Bortie Too? In first place!

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Sports.

SOMEWHERE NEAR THE EVERGLADES – Bortie Too has caught her second wind, rocketing into first place from 10th place over the past week in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 12th Annual Tour de Turtles.

After a fast sprint to Key West from west Florida’s Gulf waters, she focused on the mantra “Just keep swimming” and headed straight for the Bahamas, then changed course back towards Key West, racking up 447 miles since the race began on Aug. 1.

Bortie Too nested twice on AMI this year; she was tagged and released after nesting on Coquina Beach on June 21, then nested a second time on the Island before beginning the race.

The loggerhead sea turtle is participating in the race to raise awareness of light pollution, which can disorient nesting and hatching turtles, a problem on Anna Maria Island.

The annual event is part of the Conservancy’s research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migrate. The group uses satellite telemetry to track turtles released from beaches in Florida, Costa Rica, Panama and Nevis.

Bortie Too is sponsored by the Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named.

Bortie Too tagged, released

Tagged sea turtle off to races

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following in the flipper tracks of predecessors Bortie I, Eliza Ann and Amie, a female loggerhead sea turtle named “Bortie Too” was satellite tagged on Coquina Beach after nesting this morning and set free to “race” in the Tour de Turtles marathon.

Bortie Too tagged, released
Loggerhead sea turtle Bortie Too was satellite tagged and released this morning at Coquina Beach. – Cindy Lane | Sun

The project is a partnership of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, and sponsors Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named.

Bortie Too will compete in the Conservancy’s 12th Annual Tour de Turtles race beginning on Aug. 1. The three-month event is part of an ongoing research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migrate. The Conservancy uses satellite telemetry to track turtles released from beaches in Florida, Costa Rica, Panama and Nevis.

Where's Bortie II?
Where’s Bortie Too? Right about here. – Sea Turtle Conservancy | Submitted

The loggerhead – or other turtle species – that logs the most underwater miles wins the marathon.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=170Y_c0o5Qc[/embedyt]

Amie, named for Anna Maria Island and sponsor Anna Maria Elementary School, finished the 2015 race in last place, in true turtle style; 84 loggerheads hatched out of her nest while she was in the race.

Bortie Too tagged, released
Loggerhead sea turtle Bortie Too nested this morning on Coquina Beach, was satellite tagged, and released. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Eliza Ann, named for sponsor Waterline Marina Resort’s restaurant, made the Island proud, taking first place in the 2017 race, and nesting twice on the Island.

Bortie I came in 10th place out of 13 contestants in 2018, traveling 351 miles, lingering for most of the race off Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys.

Bortie Too tagged, released
Bortie Too breaks away clean from her temporary holding cage, where she was satellite tagged this morning. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Where’s Bortie?

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

Picking up the pace and moving ahead to 11th place from 12th in a field of 13, loggerhead sea turtle Bortie continues to swim off Everglades National Park in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 11th Annual Tour de Turtles.

Bortie has traveled 128 miles since the race began on Aug. 1. The event is part of the organization’s research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migrate.

Bortie was satellite tagged and released on Coquina Beach on June 19, and is sponsored by the Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named.

Bortie’s nest hatched successfully in August.

Where's Bortie
Bortie is still hanging around the Florida Keys in the Tour de Turtles race.

Where’s Bortie?

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

Loggerhead sea turtle Bortie is in 7th place in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 11th Annual Tour de Turtles, which began on Aug. 1. She swam 12 miles since the race start.

Bortie was satellite tagged and released on Coquina Beach on June 19, and is sponsored by the Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named.

The event is part of the organization’s ongoing research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migrate.

Related coverage

Eliza Ann off to the turtle races

Nesting News

Sea turtle tagged, off to races

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following in the flipper tracks of predecessors Amie and Eliza Ann, a female loggerhead sea turtle named “Bortie” was satellite tagged on Coquina Beach this morning and set free to “race” in the Tour de Turtles marathon.

Turtle release
Bortie, a loggerhead sea turtle, was detained after nesting Monday morning on Coquina Beach to be satellite tagged, released and tracked. – Cindy Lane | Sun

The project is a partnership of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named.

Bortie will compete in the Conservancy’s 11th Annual Tour de Turtles race beginning on Aug. 1. The event is part of an ongoing research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migr

Turtle release
Bortie’s release drew a crowd to Coquina Beach on Tuesday morning. – Sande Caplin & Associates | Submitted

Amie, named for Anna Maria Island and sponsor Anna Maria Elementary School, finished the 2015 race in last place, in true turtle style; 84 little loggerheads hatched out of her nest while she was in the race.

Eliza Ann, named for sponsor Waterline Marina Resort’s restaurant, made the Island proud, taking first place in the 2017 race.

Follow Bortie’s progress beginning Aug. 1 in The Sun.

Eliza Ann finishes in first place

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

In a burst of paddling prowess, loggerhead sea turtle Eliza Ann has finished in first place in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtle migration marathon, swimming more than 1,600 miles, while her rival, Cruz, swam more than 1,500 miles.

The 15 contenders in the race established records of where sea turtles swim after they are satellite tagged.

Eliza Ann was tagged after nesting in Coquina Beach on June 19. She is sponsored by Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.