Longboat Key 2012 turtle shirts are on sale now. T-shirts are available for a $15 donation, and proceeds from the sale benefit the Longboat Key Turtle Watch group. T-shirts are available at the UPS Store at the Centre Shops of Longboat Key and the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce. The Longboat Key Turtle Watch group [...]
Mote Marine Laboratory offered thanks to the Longboat Key Turtle Watch, which donated $3,349 this week to Mote’s sea turtle programs and marine science education efforts. Turtle Watch volunteers presented donation checks to Mote staff Dec. 2, at the public Mote Aquarium exhibit “Sea Turtles, Ancient Survivors.” “We are excited to support Mote each year, [...]
A baby loggerhead heads to the Gulf Wednesday night, Aug. 24, on Longboat Key. Many of these turtle nest excavations are open to the public. Certified Turtle Watchers of LBK keep records for Mote Marine on all nests, hatchings and excavation data. Visit www.mote.org for more info.
The question of beaches — their upkeep and governance — has kept Longboat Key’s functionaries wildly bewitched, bothered and bewildered over the past several months
An ordinance intended to protect sea turtles by forcing property owners to relocate beach furniture at night failed to crawl successfully out of a Town Commission workshop and died on the floor. Longboat commissioners said the proposed rule was onerous, vague and perhaps unnecessary
Although turtle nesting season is over for the year, the new 2011 Longboat Key Turtle Watch shirts are now for sale at the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive, and the UPS store, 5380 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 105. Cost for the shirts is $15. The next turtle season begins May 1.
A representative of Longboat Key Turtle Watch asked commissioners at their Thursday workshop to adopt an ordinance prohibiting beach furniture from being left overnight on Longboat Key beaches. The representative explained that turtle hatchlings easily become disoriented when they encounter an obstacle on their crawl to the Gulf of Mexico when they hatch. He said the turtles have been coming to our beaches for hundreds of thousands of years and do not expect to encounter beach chairs.
The turtle nesting and hatching season has officially ended. According to Longboat Key Turtle Watch member Freda Perrotta, it was successful season with 144 sea turtle nests compared to 104 last year. The Turtle Watch group wishes to thank those who joined the group at nest excavations and hopes residents and visitors will attend nest excavations next year.
According to Turtle Watch volunteer, Freda Perrotta, there are only 12 sea turtle nests left to open with the next one occurring at 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 3 at 7085 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Oct. 31 marks the end of turtle nesting season, and Mote Marine specialists have compiled data so far this season that indicates certain species of sea turtles have decreased nesting numbers while other species have slightly increased nesting numbers.
A nest has hatched at 4425 Gulf of Mexico Drive (La Playa Condominiums) and will be excavated at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3. Parking will be at the Longboat Harbour beach access, which is just south of La Playa Condominiums.
