Tagged for Tour de Turtles

A crowd of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch supporters gathers early June 23 at Coquina Beach for the release of a loggerhead sea turtle, the island’s entry in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles. The sea turtle — nicknamed “Winnie” by sponsor Brian Mathae of Hurricane Hanks, who hails from Winnipeg — was tagged with a transmitter after it nested overnight. Beginning Aug. 1, STC will track the turtle and others in the marathon for research. Inset: Winnie the loggerhead makes it to the water. Islander Photos: Jacob Merrifield

Winnie crawls back to the Gulf of Mexico to the cheers of sea turtle fans to begin the Tour de Turtles. Islander Photo: Robert Anderson