Say “hello” to Pete Gross.
Pete Gross is the chief statistician for Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
Every morning during nesting season, Gross collects data on the number of nests and false crawls found on the beach by AMITW volunteers.
Later in the season, Gross, who resides in Holmes Beach, also collects data on the number of hatchlings that emerge from each nest.
Additionally, Gross creates weekly data reports and, at the end of nesting season, compiles data into spreadsheets and a database for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Sea turtle nesting season runs May 1-Oct. 31.
Asked about the challenges he faces as a volunteer, Gross said, “For me, it’s making sure we get all the data collected and accurate. It truly reflects what is happening on the island.”
Gross began volunteering for AMITW in 2008 with his wife, Emily, who died six years ago.
The couple received AMITW’s Sadie Award, given to volunteers exhibiting excellence during a nesting season and named for a sea turtle that tried to nest on Anna Maria Island.
“Our fondest memories here together were doing turtle patrol. That was a big part of our life here,” he said.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring monitors turtle nesting activity and collects data.
In their first summer, Pete and his wife walked the beach every day with other volunteers, looking for nests and false crawls.
In the past, AMITW volunteers would hit the sand at dawn and traverse their section of the beach. Once they reached the end of their section, volunteers checked for anything they missed on their walk back.
At the end of the morning, volunteers helped coordinators stake out nests and collect data.
In 2009, Gross and his wife became coordinators for a section of beach.
But a lot of what volunteers did changed in 2020, with a renourishment project and the pandemic. The volunteer numbers now are smaller and they are using ATVs instead of walking sections.
In 2020, the number of volunteers went from 95 people to less than two dozen with the program restructuring.
Gross said that was hard on some volunteers.
Everything Gross knows about sea turtles, he learned since volunteering with AMITW. He has gone to meetings with experts, as well as read books and scientific articles to further his education.
Now Gross’s experiences are in writing and are frequently used by AMITW to educate others.
Gross said the best part of AMITW is the people. He stays in touch with a team of volunteers via weekly Zoom sessions.
“It’s what you do; it’s what you’re identified by,” Gross said, referring to the connection volunteers have with AMITW.
“We lived it every day during those six months. We talked about it the other six months,” he added.
Additionally, Gross said interacting with beachgoers is important.
“If you don’t see anybody and you’re just walking in the morning when it’s getting light, you’ll see what they leave behind, and it’s very negative. When you’re on the beach and people come up and talk to you, it’s incredible. They’re interested; they want to learn about it.”
Gross is the vice president on the board of directors for the Martinique North Condominium Association in Holmes Beach.
He helped the association convert to sea turtle-friendly lighting.
“I spent a lot of time convincing people it was the right thing to do,” he said.
Before volunteering with AMITW, Gross worked as a chief technology officer for a Fortune 200 company.
For more information on AMITW and its volunteers, go to islandturtlewatch.com or call 941-778-5638.