As of Monday, July 6, Krysta, a female loggerhead sea turtle, had traveled 86 miles since she was satellite-tagged and released on June 29 after nesting on Coquina Beach. She will participate in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 2026 Tour de Turtles race, which begins on Aug. 1. Krysta is symbolically swimming to raise awareness about the threat of beach erosion. Her participation in the Tour de Turtles is sponsored by Hurricane Hanks restaurant and the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization. Krysta was named in honor of longtime Hurricane Hanks employee Robin Palardy’s adult daughter, Krysta Palardy, who was killed in a 2025 traffic accident.
Turtle nesting update
As of Friday, July 3 :
Total loggerhead turtle nests: 344
Nests this week (6/27 to 7/3): 43
Total false crawls: 436
False crawls this week: 74
Total nests hatched: 0
Total hatchlings produced: 0
Total adult turtle disorientations: 20
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
“We are still seeing nesting turtles and awaiting our first hatch,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in her July 3 nesting update. “We had a surprise nest on the bayside of the southern end of the Island this week. Manatee County staff alerted us to a turtle nesting at sunrise this week near the South Coquina Boat Ramp.” This nest has been posted and caged to prevent raccoon predation and will be monitored throughout the season. If you observe a nesting turtle, remain quiet and observe from a distance. If you see a sea turtle in trouble, call AMI Turtle Watch at 941-301-8434 or FWC at 888-404-3922.
Shorebird nesting update
As of Friday, July 3:
Least terns: 32 adults on seven nests with nine chicks
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
“The black skimmer colony was deemed inactive this week with no nests hatched and all the birds have left the enclosure,” Mazzarella wrote in her July 3 nesting update.
As of June 26, the black skimmer colony had nine adults.
“The least terns continue to persist inside the colony and have nine chicks that are doing well, with more chicks to hatch in the coming weeks,” she wrote.
Turtle Watch volunteers and beachgoers have named the least tern chicks Persi, Vera, Nancy, Amelia, Charlie, Carlos, Leon, Pearl and Opal.
“With seven nests still being incubated, future chicks will be named Indy and Daly (for Independence Day); Merry and Libby (for America and Liberty),” Mazzarella wrote.
Least tern chicks gain their flight feathers after three weeks.
“Persi took his first flight (fledged) on July 1, and Vera has been stretching her wings and getting the courage to fly,” Mazzarella wrote. “The chicks seem to like the southern end of the enclosure as their playground and don’t obey the boundaries or the ‘Chick Crossing’ signs.”
Beachgoers should keep their distance from the enclosure when setting up their tents and chairs and use caution while walking along the shoreline. Do not approach or pick up chicks. If you see a chick in trouble, alert a bird steward or call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922 or the AMI Turtle Watch hotline at 941-301-8434.
