Turtle nesting season has begun on Anna Maria Island, and with this comes the potential to adopt a nest in support of Anna Maria Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
The first loggerhead nest was spotted May 8, marking the official start of the season, which extends through the end of October.
From May through October, volunteers from Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring walk the beach just after dawn to look for signs of nesting activity.
Once a nest is identified, the volunteers will stake the area with posts, place flags and monitor the nest for activity. The gestation period is approximately 60 days.
For more than 10 years, AMITW has had an “adopt-a-nest” program that provides locals and visitors to Anna Maria Island with the opportunity to sponsor a sea turtle nest.
For a tax-deductible donation of $100, participants receive a plaque at the nesting site.
They also receive a letter of appreciation, a certificate and data from their nest.
When the nest has hatched and the data collected, the honorary plaque is sent to the donor.
AMITW executive director Suzi Fox said the program has met with enthusiasm by islanders and visitors. The plaques are used to commemorate a variety of events, including holidays, birthdays, weddings and memorials.
“People love walking the beach and seeing these beautiful plaques. Often, they have very emotional stories attached to them,” said Fox.
When the program was started in 2003, there were 10 sponsored plaques. This year, 50 nests have been pre-adopted, stated Fox. “We are over the moon with the success of this program.”
Fox said on occasion an adopted nest does not hatch or is lost. “Sometimes nature takes hold. This program is meant to be symbolic and to serve as a source for public awareness,” she said.
Money donated to adopt-a-nest goes to AMITW.
“We pump all of these funds into public awareness materials — printed materials and fun items for the kids,” said Fox. “We enjoy putting back into the community what has been given to us. This eliminates the need to seek out funding.”
Sometimes the adoptive donors are present at the excavation, which takes place after the hatchlings have left the nest.
“We’ve had some very moving experiences out at the nests,” she said.
For more information, visit the AMITW website at www.islandturtlewatch.com and follow the link to adopt a nest.