A green turtle nest — a rarity for Anna Maria Island — hatched Sept. 11, its anticipated due date.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring said the nest was made on Coquina Beach July 18-19.
The nest was relocated to Fifth Street South in Bradenton Beach because of renourishment work taking place on Coquina Beach.
More recently, AMITW set up a cage at the nest because of concerns for lighting issues at a nearby home. AMITW reported to Bradenton Beach officials that “big barn lights” were left on at the property that could have disoriented the hatchlings.
“Not only are we watching this nest, but the whole Island and county is watching this nest,” AMITW executive director Suzi Fox said last week.
On Sept. 11, about 100 hatchlings emerged from the nest.
AMITW planned to release the hatchlings at dusk Sept. 12.
The only other known green turtle nest on Anna Maria Island was laid in July 2002 near 10th Street South after the turtle crawled ashore twice and took an arduous trek through an obstacle course of beach furniture, according to Islander archives.
The green turtle is an endangered species, protected by federal and state law, as well as international accords.
The much larger loggerhead is the sea turtle most likely to nest on Anna Maria Island beaches.