According to Suzi Fox, executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, effects from Tropical Storm Colin mimicked Tropical Storm Debby from June 2012, as far as nesting damage.
As Fox saw the storm develop on the news, she went to check nests on the beach, hammer stakes and remove some protective cages at Coquina Beach.
Historically it’s normal to have low nests — close to the waterline — early in the season, she said. They get wiped out by waves from a storm, but a few days after the storm moves on, nesting goes off the charts and the nests are laid higher up on the beach.
On June 7, AMITW was limited to monitoring the nests by ATV, she said. Too many storm bands were coming through.
“We were right on the mark with our predictions,” Fox said. AMITW saw 52 nests — some eggs and some markers — washed out.
However, within three days, 50 new nests replaced those lost — all high and dry.
Pre-TS Colin there were 76 nests on the beach, and 26 remained.
June 8’s tally was nine new nests and 28 false crawls. Fox said June 9-10 brought 30 more nests — “natures little gift after the wrath.”