Turtle-nesting season sees sensational start

Ring the bells and fly the flag! This 2011 turtle season is off to a sensational start. The first nest of the season hatched June 22 and was evacuated June 25. Tim Thurman, who originally found the nest, and others excavated the nest. There were 74 hatched eggs and 67 unhatched. The total of 141 eggs was an unusually large clutch. Freda Perrotta further reported that there were three live hatchlings in the nest and one that was just “pipping” — it finished hatching as they watched.

“The three live hatchlings, plus the one that hatched as we watched, were released as soon as all the birds left the sky, and all swam out successfully,” Perrotta said.

There was more excitement on the Sarasota County part of Longboat Key, where there was an unusual happening of a female turtle laying her nest in early daylight at 7 a.m. June 29.

The first nest on the Sarasota County side of Longboat Key was hatched June 21 and excavated June 24. Out of 135 eggs in the nest, 114 hatched.

Watch for more info as the season progresses.

Virginia Sanders is the spokesperson for the Longboat Key Turtle Conservation Program, serves on the Citizens Advisory Board of the National Estuary Program and is a Mote Marine volunteer.