From balconies, porches, patios and sandy “backyards,” Anna Maria Island’s beachfront residents are on the lookout during the critical sea turtle nesting season.
The shoreline neighbors’ watchful eyes can be invaluable for the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring team that patrols the beaches each morning.
The islanders also support local code enforcement and law enforcement officers, the authorities responsible for ensuring beaches remain clear and dark at night.
Residents’ assistance extends to helping local media as well. We, at The Islander, know because we receive — and appreciate — their emails and calls.
In past years, attentive neighbors have made remarkable differences.
Several years ago, residents captured video evidence of trespassers on an ATV damaging turtle and shorebird nests, while others — years before my time here — assisted police in investigating a poached nest on the island’s north end.
But more often, the shoreline sentinels report disoriented turtles, ailing birds, damaged nests, predatory cats, hazardous beach holes, problematic lighting and vulnerable nesting sites.
Earlier this month, Holmes Beach resident Kathy Caserta shared a photo and note about an early-season nest 10 feet from the waterline, potentially at risk from tides and storms.
Meanwhile, in Bradenton Beach, an islander nearly living next door to a black skimmer colony reported beachgoers were respecting the potential nesting site.
What else might we learn from the good neighbors by the beach?
With many weeks of nesting season ahead, these coastal stewards remain AMI’s eyes on the shoreline.
Nesting numbers
As of May 16, AMITW reported 42 nests, 68 false crawls and one adult disorientation for the season.
It’s elementary
Class lessons from AMITW, AME
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, during the 2024-25 academic year, invited teachers and students at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach to compose questions about sea turtles, shorebirds and AMITW’s work on the beaches. Over the next couple of months, the Islander will share AME questions and AMITW answers.
Students in Maggie VanWormer’s kindergarten class: How many eggs does the mama turtle lay in the nest?
AMITW: A mother turtle will lay an average of 100 – 120 eggs in each nest. She also lays 5-7 nests each season – one every 2 weeks.
Talking turtles
The city of Holmes Beach will host Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring for weekly talks about sea turtle and shorebird nesting.
Sea Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts talks continue Mondays at 10 a.m. through August at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
For more information, call turtle watch at 941-301-8434 or go to www.islandturtlewatch.com.