Door hangers, stickers, bracelets and even temporary tattoos are making an appearance to protect sea turtles and shorebirds nesting on Anna Maria Island.
Nesting season is underway and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring is informing the public of necessary precautions.
AMITW, a nonprofit with volunteers who monitor the island shore May-October to document nesting activity, is distributing materials and making educational presentations to people of all ages.
AMITW executive director Suzi Fox said it is imperative to educate local youth: “The kids talk with their parents and then grow up to be the future caretakers of our environment.”
Fox and AMITW volunteers recently visited Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach to present a lesson on sea turtles and shorebirds. They brought models of injured turtles and assigned the “junior biologists” to diagnose the problems exhibited.
AMITW then took the students to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rehabilitation facility to experience the work done to save injured turtles.
Fox said, “The kids were thrilled! It was truly magical.”
Funding for the field trip was provided by a grant from the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
Additionally, Fox and AMITW volunteers worked with AME students to illustrate workbooks and design informative door hangers.
A grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program provided funding for the materials.
The hangers are used in a door-to-door campaign and the workbooks will be available to customers at local restaurants.
“Kids all over the island will be having fun and learning while they wait for their meals,” said Fox.
AMITW also has been working with Around the Bend Nature Tours to help children create informative “bird art” for placement at shorebird nesting sites.
AMITW also aims to inform adults.
In June and July, AMITW will host a series of “Turtle Talks” at CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. The presentations will consist of video and photographic displays demonstrating “a day in the life of a sea turtle,” Fox said.
There also will be opportunities to ask questions of the expert and attendees will receive promotional materials.
AMITW also reaches out to local businesses “Packets are delivered to every real estate office and resort on the island,” Fox said.
For more information, contact Fox at suzilfox@gmail.com or 941-778-5638.
AMITW stats
as of May 22:
21 nests,
40 false crawls and
21adopted nests.
Courtesy Pete “the stat man”
Gross of AMITW