BRADENTON BEACH – Hundreds of onlookers gathered at Coquina Beach on Monday morning for a scheduled loggerhead sea turtle release.
The turtle, Winnie, did not disappoint as she made her way to the water. She stopped several times and lifted her head to look at the crowd of delighted spectators gathering around her.
Winnie laid her nest early Monday morning on Coquina Beach and was outfitted with a satellite tag.
She was released from an enclosure by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers and slowly made her way toward the water. She hesitated before reaching the water, requiring a gentle nudge to keep going. Once she touched water, she was off and swimming.
Winnie will participate in the Sea Turtle Conservancy-sponsored Tour de Turtles race, which begins on Aug. 1 and measures how far and where participating turtles swim during the event.
Her participation is sponsored by Turtle Watch and Holmes Beach restaurant Hurricane Hank’s. She was named Winnie in honor of the Canadian hometown of Hank’s owner, Brian Mathae, which is Winnipeg.
Winnie’s progress can be monitored weekly at www. sandedeveloper.com/.
