Turtle Nesting
Season Begins on Anna Maria Island Beaches...
It's being reported that local Anna Maria Island officials and Turtle Watch have been preparing for this year's sea turtle protection effort".
As is the case every year around April, endangered sea turtles in the local area waters are expected to begin nesting on the beaches of Anna Maria Island.
In anticipation of this annual ecological event, officials have been looking to the public for help in protecting the turtles as well as with observing this amazing ancient ritual.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, although sea turtles are in fact among the oldest creatures on earth and are believed to have been nesting on beaches for some 110 million years, the journey taken from the sea to the sand and back to the sea again is a perilous one indeed. So perilous for the turtle hatchlings that their ultimate survival is largely in human hands.
Meet "Lefty", The Sea Turtle Hatchling That Got Left Behind and Survived!
The local sea turtles and their hatchlings are at risk from artificial lighting and scavengers. If you want more information about how you can help save the sea turtles, call Turtle Watch at 778-5638. Or read, Making it Safer for Sea Turtles During Their Nesting and Hatching Season to learn more.
Turtle Nesting Tours
Morning turtle nesting beach tours are conducted on the beaches of Anna Maria Island during the early morning hours of June, July and August. Please contact Turtle Watch to make a reservation at 941 778 5638.
Visit the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch website to learn more.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch
Efforts by both the municipalities and the local Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch organizaiton to educate the general public about the impact beach lighting has on hatchlings on they journey from their nests to sea have increased in recent years.
Effect of Unnatural Light on Sea Turtle Nesting and Hatchlings
Unnatural man-made light can cause a sea turtle to become disoriented.
According to Fish and Wildlife experts, this phenomonon results in the death of thousands of sea turtles annually, and can be prevented. The unnatural light from our homes, streets and parking lots interfere with the turtles internal navigation system. As a result, sea turtles often, while confused by the artificial light, mistakenly wander onto roadways and get run over and killed, instead of using natural light as a guide to the ocean and safety.
Not only can artificial light result in sea turtle hatchlings heading off in the wrong direction and getting lost, it also can cause female sea turtles to abort the nesting process and head back to sea without laying her eggs.
The official sea turtle season is recognized as being from May 1 to Oct. 31 each year. During this critical turtle nesting time, officials are urging beach communities to eliminate artificial lighting as much as possible.
The local sea turtles and their hatchlings are at risk from artificial lighting and scavengers. If you want more information about how you can help save the sea turtles, call Turtle Watch at 778-5638. Or read, Making it Safer for Sea Turtles During Their Nesting and Hatching Season to learn more.
Volunteer Turtle Watch Patrols
Every season, the Turtle Watch folks team up with state authorities to certify dozens of beach patrol volunteers. These beach patrol volunteers then monitor 1-mile stretches of Anna Maria beaches for turtle activity. The patrols are done daily at sunrise to search for sea turtle nests and any other sign of turtles nesting.
Data from the beach patrols is tabulated and compiled for state research. Volunteers report that the beach patrol is fun and growing in popularity.
Visit the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch website to learn more.
If you want to learn more about sea turtles, go to the Anna Maria Island Sea Turtle section of this blog.
Recent Comments