The ATVs are ready.
So are the volunteers, as Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring anticipates the start of the shorebird and sea turtle nesting season.
AMITW’s volunteer team is fully staffed and has been patrolling the island beaches since April 1, AMITW executive director Suzi Fox told The Islander April 4.
Fox said there were no nesting shorebirds or sea turtles — yet — but volunteers had identified large numbers of black skimmers, least terns and snowy plovers.
For AMITW, April is about sharing messages regarding precautions and protections.
To protect the team, Fox asked beachgoers to wear masks and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from the AMITW volunteers.
Also, she noted that volunteers are not allowed to give rides on the ATVs due to insurance restrictions.
To protect the nests — bird and sea turtle nests — marine biology students from Eckerd College in St Petersburg are painting 400 stakes for markers.
And to protect the sea turtles on shore, Fox advised residents, business managers and visitors to ensure beachfront lighting is turtle friendly and in compliance with ordinances adopted in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach.
Sea turtles — the adult females that nest and the hatchlings that emerge from the nests — can be disoriented by lights visible from the shore, resulting in disrupted nesting, dehydration and even death.
Beachfront property owners can find turtle-friendly lighting at local hardware stores and should address any lighting concerns before the nesting season begins.
Turtle nesting season officially begins May 1, with clutches hatching about two months later.
Nesting activity continues through October.
There are five species of sea turtles that nest in Florida — the loggerhead, green, leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley and hawksbill.
Nesting on AMI mostly involves loggerheads and an occasional green sea turtle.
Shorebird nesting also is imminent, so beachgoers are asked to avoid disturbing shorebirds, as well as dispose of trash in bins or carry it to a receptacle at the beach access or at home.
About AMITW
AMITW is a nonprofit focused on collecting data on sea turtles, which are listed as threatened or endangered in Florida, depending on the species.
For more information, go online to islandturtlewatch.com or call executive director Suzi Fox at 941-232-1405.