A sea turtle was observed nesting in the early morning hours — an occurrence that usually happens under cover of darkness.
The loggerhead was seen nesting and crawling back to the Gulf of Mexico early July 12 near 67th Street in Holmes Beach.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers Karen and Chuck Anderson had just started their beach survey at 6 a.m. when they noticed tracks leading up the beach in the sand.
The tracks led to a loggerhead on the beach where it was nesting.
People gathered.
The beachgoers watched as the turtle covered the nest and then crawled across the shore to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Andersons took video of the experience and made certain the turtle was not disturbed.
Beachgoers Margaret and Sandy McKnight, who ironically named their condo “The Sandy Turtle,” watched the sandy turtle lay its eggs nearby.
Seeing the nesting turtle was a bucket list item for Margaret McKnight, who said she had tears in her eyes as she watched.
Afterward, the McKnights adopted a nest through AMITW’s adopt-a-nest program in memory of Irma Yatros, a neighbor friend who died June 7.
After the turtle crawled to the Gulf, the AMITW volunteers continued their beach survey.
Other nesting notes
The first loggerhead nests to hatch on Anna Maria Island have been a success.
Volunteers had excavated several nests as of July 15 and no hatchlings were left behind to be extracted. This is indicative of hatchlings working in unison to crawl up and out of the nest and trek to the Gulf.
Also, volunteers observed no hatchling disorientations.
Volunteers know a nest has hatched when they see a drop or hole in the sand created after hatchlings emerge from the nest.
Three days after a nest hatches, the volunteers excavate to count hatched and unhatched eggs, as well as look for any live hatchlings that might have stayed behind.
Two excavations July 12 in Holmes Beach — near 73rd Street and in the 5300 block of Gulf Drive — had 172 hatched eggs and 14 unhatched eggs.
Coco and Hazel Christerson, visiting from Suwanee, Georgia, with their parents, were mesmerized by the excavation experience and the knowledge the Andersons had to offer.
AMITW welcomes beachgoers to the excavations. The volunteers simply request a safe distance be observed and that people not touch the eggshells, which can carry salmonella.
The excavations are one method of educating people on AMI about nesting season.
The city governments also work to educate.
The Holmes Beach code enforcement department has set up a turtle display for residents and visitors at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
Code enforcement officer Jayson Clayton said July 12 that the display is set up every season.
Yet another education tool is the enthusiasm drummed up with the Tour de Turtles.
Esther, the first chelonian (hard shell) turtle released for the 2022 Tour de Turtles, has traveled more than 150 miles after the release June 20 from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.
Esther was tracked in Terra Ceia Bay July 14 and appeared to be swimming back to the Gulf. It was anticipated the turtle would nest again this season on AMI.
The Tour de Turtles is an effort led by the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The official start date for the chelonian category is Aug. 1.
The Waterline Resort, Mainsail Vacation Rentals, both located on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, and also AMITW worked with the conservancy to make the tagging of Esther possible.
Esther’s travels can be viewed at tourdeturtles.org.
For more information or questions about AMITW, contact volunteer Barbara Riskay at snqqpy24@aol.com or 404-275-9422.