Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch Finds First Nest of 2025 Season

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch (AMITW) were delighted to find the first loggerhead turtle nest and false crawl of the season on Anna Maria Island. They joined other groups on Florida’s Gulf Coast that have seen their first nests over the past few weeks. Although sea turtle nesting season officially starts on May 1st, AMITW volunteers started patrolling the island beaches on April 15th to ensure that any early nests are found. “We are excited to see that sea turtle nesting has begun on Anna Maria Island and look forward to a productive season,” says AMITW Director, Kristen Mazzarella.

In addition to sea turtles, AMITW also monitors nesting shorebirds on Anna Maria Island. A flock of Black Skimmers continues to test different sites within Bradenton Beach. As of Saturday, the flock had grown to 62 and could be seen pairing off, courting with sticks and fish, and ultimately mating. We are hopeful that eggs will soon appear. In the meantime, we are modifying the closure to protect the birds from vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

With nesting season upon us, AMITW reminds folks about the Dos and Don’ts that you can do to help us protect sea turtles and shorebirds on Anna Maria Island:
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR SEA TURTLE & SHOREBIRD NESTING SEASON
Here are a few basic tips residents and visitors should be aware of to help ensure a successful
nesting season:

Do:
• Shield or turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach and close drapes after dark.
• Remove all beach furniture and toys from the beach at night.
• Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles that may impede hatchlings on their way to the water.
• Respect posted areas. Keep away from nesting and resting areas and use designated walkways.
• Place trash in its proper place and do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators such as racoons and crows to the beaches. Litter on beaches can entangle birds and turtles.
• Keep your distance. If birds become agitated or leave their nests you are too close!! A general rule is to stay at least 300 feet away from a shorebird nest.
• Keep pets away from nesting areas. Even well-behaved pets can be perceived as a threat. Keep cats indoors.
• If you encounter a nesting turtle, remain quiet and observe from a distance.
• Call AMITW at 941-301-8434 or FWC at 888-404-3922 if you find a turtle (adult or hatchling) in distress.
• Spread the word! If you see people disturbing nesting birds, sea turtles, or nest sites, gently remind them how their actions may hurt the animals’ survival. If they continue to disturb, please call and report their activities to FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Do Not:
• Use flashlights, cellphones, flash photography or fishing lamps on the beach.
• Encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged.
• Use fireworks on the beach.
• Approach nesting turtles or emerging hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles.
• Intentionally force birds to fly. When birds are chased or disturbed, they use energy they need to reserve for nesting and migration.

For more information or ways to help protect sea turtles and shorebirds, please visit islandturtlewatch.com or come see AMITW volunteers present Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts every Monday from 10am – 11am and Holmes Beach City Hall (5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach).