AMITW Nesting Update 6/27/2025
Sea Turtles
6/7/2025 – 6/13/2025
Nests this week: 71 (69 loggerhead, 2 green)
False Crawls this week: 96 (95 loggerhead, 1 green)
2025 Total Nests: 343 (336 loggerhead, 7 green)
2025 Total False: Crawls 610 (594 loggerhead, 16 green)
2025 Adult Disorientations:19 (18 loggerhead, 1 green)
Nesting numbers are looking good and following the track of nesting numbers from 2022 and 2023 for loggerheads but we are expecting to surpass our record of 12 green turtle nests this year. Hatching season should be starting in the next few weeks, so we checking every nest very thoroughly every day for new hatchling tracks.
Sea Turtle Release
Winnie, the loggerhead turtle, was released at Coquina Beach on Monday as part of Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles. Winnie was satellite tagged, thanks to her sponsor, Hurricane Hanks, so you can track her travels. Her track can be found at conserveturtles.org/turtle/winnie/
(you can also find this link on our website under the Media section). We thank all who attended for making it such a big day!
Nesting turtle at sunset
Visitors called in a loggerhead turtle that had come up around 7:15pm this week. AMITW volunteers quickly headed to the site to ensure her safety. We were so happy that the crowd that had gathered to watch this special event were very respectful, keeping their distance, staying behind the turtle, and keeping their voices down. It was a great educational opportunity shared by all and best of all she successfully laid a nest! If you see a nesting turtle on the beach during the day, please call our hotline 941-301-8434.
Nests in unusual places
This year we have found sea turtle nests in a variety of unusual places. This week was no different. We got a call from Manatee County Natural Resources about a nest that was laid at Emerson Point Preserve. As far as we know, this is the very first nest for this County park. The nest was confirmed by AMITW and caged to prevent raccoon predation. We are excited to see how this nest fares. Some other unusual locations include a turtle that traversed a seawall and silt fencing to nest in a construction site and a turtle that nested underneath an adirondack chair right next to a fire pit. If you notice a sea turtle nest on your property, we could use your help! Please make sure that people staying at the house are aware that the nest site is protected and follow our turtle friendly tips of keeping the area clean, dark, and flat. CLEAN: Remove any trash, toys, or beach furniture that might entangle sea turtles, DARK: turn off any beach facing lights and do not use lights on the beach at night, and FLAT: knock down your sand castles and fill in your holes to keep turtles safe!.
It’s ALMOST hatching time!
If you haven’t checked your property to make sure that there are no lights that can be seen from the beach, now is the time! Hatchling sea turtles use the light of the night sky as a cue to find their way to the Gulf. If they see light brighter than the night sky, they will head in the wrong direction. AMITW has turtle friendly light guides that can help with that as well as FREE PAR 20 Amber light bulbs (available in limited quantities). If you are in need of turtle friendly educational supplies such as rack cards, table tents, or coloring pages, you can order FREE materials at islandturtlewatch.com/get-involved/educate
Photos from this week:
The tracks from a loggerhead turtle that nested at Emerson Point Preserve Credit: Kyle Messina (Manatee County Natural Resources)
The loggerhead nest at Emerson Point Preserve was cage to prevent raccoon predation. Credit: Kyle Messina (Manatee County Natural Resources)
Loggerhead turtle Winnie as she was released to kick off Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles on Anna Maria Island. Credit: Jerry Miller
Loggerhead turtle, Winnie, makes her way down the beach at the turtle release for Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles on Anna Maria Island. Credit: Amy Waterbury
Volunteer Danielle Kimberly educates visitor, Lori Dreyer, about sea turtles after a loggerhead turtle nested next to a fire pit on a beachfront property.