Anna Maria Island

Turtle Nesting Season Well Underway

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.

Turtle Story With a Happy Ending

We All Love Turtles...

It's true, we all love the Anna Maria Island turtle and what better way to show it than to publish a turtle story with a happy ending.

"According to a report in the Port Charlotte Sun, two loggerhead sea turtles were put back into Sarasota Bay and reported to be swimming with renewed vigor after Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital nursed them back to health."

"Mote staff and volunteers released the adult female that was stranded on March 29 near Siesta Beach, and a subadult female that was stranded May 15 between Egmont Key and Anna Maria."

"Both turtles dug their flippers into the sand and rushed seaward, the agency reports."

"Padme and Ahsoka were suffering from lethargic loggerhead syndrome, an illness of uncertain origin that can immobilize loggerhead sea turtles, a threatened species protected by federal law. Thankfully they set off okay and were fitted with chips so Mote staff can locate them in the future."

Now that's a happy turtle story, and we'll keep our eyes peeled for any updates on these two gems of the sea!

Dolphins Playing on the Beach

Watching Dolphins Play on the Beaches of Anna Maria Island...

This post courtesy of Anna Maria Island Life, your one stop Anna Maria Island Information and Business Directory.

I came across a post yesterday entitled, "At The Beach On Anna Maria Island Watching The Dolphins Play!"

I found it interesting because who doesn't like dolphins, especially to be able to sit on the beaches of Anna Maria Island, while on vacation, and actually see them playing live!

If you have ever been witness to the Dolphins of Anna Maria Island, then you know it's better than the movies... that's for sure!

I can't find it now, but it went something like this:

This morning my husband and I were at my nieces condo on Anna Maria Island in Florida.  We had been sitting right outside her beautiful condo that sits right on the beach. 

It was an incredible sight.  There were three dolphins playing around on the edge of the water. It went on for some time. The dolphins obviously were having quite a time of it. 

There were actually people swimming out to them, and the dolphins simply swam around them as if they were as amused as the people were. I have never seen anything like this.

Turtle Watch

Contact Information for the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch...

This is just a reminder that from 05/01/2009 to 11/01/2009, it's Loggerhead Turtle nesting season.

If you are interested in saving the local turtle population and would like to participate in the annual Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch Walk.

Contact the AMITW for more information about these fun and educational turtle nesting tours.

• 2213 Avenue B

• Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

• www.islandturtles.com

• e.mail: suzifox@tampabay.rr.com

The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch's Guided Turtle Nesting Tours are cool, and they totally help save the local turtle population.

Whether you are new to Anna Maria Island, or a seasoned Anna Maria Island vacationer, you haven't experienced Anna Maria Island until you have participated in at least one of the Turtle Watch's Guided Turtle Nesting Tours.

Sea Turtle Information

Learn About The Florida Sea Turtle and How You Can Help...

Since we began this Anna Maria Island Life Blog way back in 2007, we have continued to publish information and articles about the local sea turtle issues including information about turtle nesting season and what we can do to help ensure the survival our beloved friends... the Anna Maria Island sea turtles.

The local Turtle Watch is integral to the survival of these amazing sea creatures that have survived so very long and we would like to thank them and all their volunteers and their efforts.

Without the Turtle Watch 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.

Guided Turtle Nesting Tours

Nesting Turtle Tours of Anna Maria Island...

With this years sea turtle nesting season upon us, we thought it appropriate to remind our visitors that the local Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch is once again going to be conducting their Morning Nesting Beach Tours of Anna Maria Island.

Morning Nesting Beach Tours of Anna Maria Island are conducted during the early morning hours of June, July & August.

Please contact Turtle Watch to make a reservation at 941 778 5638.

Remember, Good Beach Etiquette Saves Turtles

"Turtle Watch" says to always use good beach Etiquette. Nesting sea turtles depend on dark, quiet beaches to reproduce successfully. Today these turtles are endangered, in part because they must compete with tourists, businesses and coastal residents to use the beach.

Man-made, coastal development results in artificial lighting on the beach that discourages female sea turtles from nesting and can disorient hatchlings causing them to wander away from the beach where they often die of dehydration, predation, or even from being being run over on Gulf Dr.

Lights Out For Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Help Ensure a Successful Sea Turtle Nesting Season...

Sea turtle nesting season has begun on Florida's beaches, which means beach residents and visitors need to follow a few precautions to ensure a successful season.

Call Patricia Behnke at 850-251-2130 for more information.

FWC photo... Loggerhead hatchlings can become disoriented by beach lighting as they try to head to the ocean.

Shield Lights To Help Save Turtles

Lights along the beach should be managed to prevent disorienting a female that comes ashore at night, according to biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

To do this, lights that are needed for human safety should be shielded so they are not visible from the beach or turned off when not needed.  The instincts of the ancient sea creature tell her to proceed toward the brighter horizon over the ocean. Bright lights on the landward side of the beach can confuse the nesting sea turtle and the hatchlings that emerge from the nest. Lights on the beach can lead them away from the ocean.

"Just one light can kill thousands of turtles over several years," said Dr. Robbin Trindell, a biologist with the FWC. "Many lights burn all night without contributing to human safety."

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...

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch "Adopt a Nest & Adopt a Hatchling" programs truly a gift that keeps on giving.

The local Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch "Adopt a Nest" program is very popular.

For a suggested donation of $100, you get a plaque posted at a nest with your choice of wording. Turtle Watch collects the data and contacts you when your nest hatches. You recieve copies of the data sheets and you get your plaque.

The local Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch "Adopt a Hatchling" program is also very popular as a gift.

Each "Adopt a Hatchling" package comes with an 8x10 certificate of adoption with a picture of your bouncing baby sea turtle hatchling. It includes our "Lights out" stickers, a turtle tattoo and other information about sea turtles on Anna Maria Island.

Beach Etiquette During Turtle Nesting Season

Help Sea Turtles With A Little Common Sense...

We all love to see the sea turtles, but we really do need to use common sense when we come face to face with one.

Humans are the greatest liability to the survival and well being of all species of sea turtles. So when coming across a female during nesting season, or a new born hatchling... its important that we maintain proper etiquette.

Beach Etiquette & How You Can Help Sea Turtles... by Turtle Watch

• If you find a live hatchling on the shore call AMITW @ 778 5638.

• Minimize beachfront lighting visible from the beach.

• Do not approach an adult turtle coming out of the water to nest. You may startle her and she may return to the water without nesting.

• Do not position yourself in front of a nesting female. This action may cause her to abort her nesting attempt.

• Avoid using flashlights or flash cameras. Lights disrupt or disorient nesting turtles and emerging hatchlings.

• Watch for and avoid hatchlings emerging from a nest. They are small and easily stepped on in the dark.

• Do not drive any unauthorized vehicles on the beach at night.

• Fill in holes in the sand on the beach after your day of fun.

Turtle Watch Prepares For Turtle Nesting Season

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.