If You Come to Anna Maria Island, Come During Turtle Nesting Season...
Turtle nesting season, is always a season to remember. That's right, it's that time of year once again, Turtle time that is.
It's true, this year's Turtle season is in full swing on Anna Maria Island, with hatchings taking place almost daily. When talking to a Turtle Watch volunteer, I was told it's been a very productive year for our beloved turtle friends and that we have a long ways to go yet... possible until the end of October.
Turtle hatchlings are the most amazing things to witness as they make their way from the nest to the Gulf shores. if you like turtles you will enjoy our story about Lefty, the Turtle that got Left Behind and Survived.
Left's story is not unique, and its all too common. I remember one time watching on as Turtle Watch volunteers helped rescue a number hatchlings unable to climb their way free of he nest.
Turtles are a real treat for visitors to our island paradise, and a major attraction. I've seen many large crowds of people, many of them visitors, looking on in amazement as large numbers of hatchlings make their way from nest to sea.
Of course there are rules that need to be followed when participating in a hatching. There are no camera flashes allowed, although infra-red lights are used when necessary. This is because of the negative effect that unnatural light has on a turtle hatchlings ability to navigate their way to the sea.
If you have ever stood over a turtle nest that had begun to cave in due to the rumblings of turtles cracking through their eggs, and seen the ground begin to boil, then and only then are you able to really understand just how amazing this simple act of Mother Nature is. Its awe inspiring to watch the ground suddenly move and see these little guys scrambling over their nests, and in some cases each other, and begin their journey towards the water from whence they came.
One person said, "It's as though they are all wearing a compass as they march like an army to their new environment. There is usually one leader and a few stragglers that seem to be a bit weaker than their brothers and sisters."
Turtle hatchlings are always an emotional event to witness, no matter how many times you have seen it before. You look on with encouragement and urge them on towards the safety of the sea until the last little guy hits the water swimming.
Once a hatchling is over, you see the Turtle Watch volunteers go back to the nest to count and record the number of shells. It also provides the opportunity to look for any eggs that did not hatch and perhaps even rescue any stragglers that were unable to complete their hatch in time and got left behind.
Finding baby turtles still in the nest after all the others are gone, is quite common. Thanks to the volunteers of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, most of these 'Lefty's' are rescued and given a fighting chance at survival.
Without the efforts of the Turtle Watch volunteers, the journey from sea to sand and back to sea again would be a much more perilous one for sure.
What follows is a list of links that will take you to the many different posts we have on this blog about sea turtles and how you can help them survive. They are there to inform and help you help the sea turtles.
Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed publishing them.
Turtle Watch Prepares For Turtle Nesting Season - Turtle Nesting Season Begins on Anna Maria Island Beaches.
Guided Turtle Nesting Tours 09 - Nesting Turtle Tours of Anna Maria Island.
Turtle Watch Adopt A Nest and Adopt A Hatchling Programs - Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest or Hatchling Today, and Give the Gift That Keeps on Giving.
Beach Etiquette During Turtle Nesting Season - Help Save Sea Turtles With A Little Common Sense.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sea Turtles - Learn More About Sea Turtles.
Learn More About the Florida Sea Turtles - All Seven Species of Sea Turtles are in Danger of Extinction.
Florida Sea Turtles Need Your Help - What You Can Do To Save the Sea Turtle.
Help Save Florida Gulf Coast Turtles - What You Can Do To Help Save Anna Maria Island Sea Turtles.
Lights Out For Sea Turtle Nesting Season - Help Ensure a Successful Sea Turtle Nesting Season.
Resolving Light-Pollution Problems on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches - Making it Safer for Sea Turtles During Their Nesting and Hatching Season (May 1 - October 31).
Meet "Lefty" - The Turtle that Got Left Behind and Survived.
Just Another Turtle Story - The Tortoise and the Hippo.
Loggerhead Turtle Nest Found on Manatee River Bank - First Loggerhead Turtle Nest Found East of Anna Maria Island in 25 Years.
Sea Turtles on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key - Sea Turtles: Witness the Miracle.
Sea Turtle Nests Wiped Out By Storms - Flooding Takes Toll on Turtle Nests.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season - And the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.
Sea Turtle Tours 08 - Sea Turtle Nesting Tours on Anna Maria Island.
If you have any interesting "Turtle Stories" of your own that you would like to share, we would be more than happy to publish them here at Anna Maria Island Life... we love Turtles ;-)
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