Yep, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring was still waiting to mark its first sea turtle nest of the season as The Islander went to press.

And yes, fans of a most unusual marathon are awaiting the June tag-and-release of a loggerhead sea turtle on Anna Maria Island.

First, about AMITW’s monitoring: The nonprofit began patrolling the beaches on April 15, looking for signs of nesting sea turtles.

As of May 10, AMITW had not reported its first nest of the season.

Now, about the Tour de Turtles: AMITW helps the Sea Turtle Conservancy each year with tagging a loggerhead sea turtle for a migration marathon that provides researchers and policymakers with data about loggerheads, while also engaging and informing the public.

The plan is to tag AMI’s entry in the marathon on Monday, June 29, at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. The time and the exact location will be decided on the morning of the event, which is open to the public.

The turtle will be tagged with a satellite transmitter after it nests and then released into the Gulf of Mexico.

The marathon officially begins Aug. 1 and for the three months after, AMI’s turtle and others will be tracked as they swim to feeding grounds and nest again.

The Tour de Turtles “winner” is the turtle that swims the most miles.

Each tracker sends a signal to polar-orbiting NOAA satellites — the same ones that monitor global weather — every time a turtle surfaces to breathe.

From that data, researchers can pinpoint a turtle’s location, track its route, record dive frequency and duration, and even measure water temperature.

Turtle talks on Mondays

AMITW’s Turtle Tracks & Shorebird Facts is a free weekly presentation at 10 a.m. Mondays, May-August, at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

For more information, visit islandturtlewatch.com or call 941-301-8434.

By the numbers

As of May 10, AMITW reported no nests in the 2026 sea turtle season.