With the start of the loggerhead nesting season at the beginning of March, Palm Beach County has the chance once again to reclaim its title as the most important sea turtle nesting habitat. Famed for housing almost 5 percent of the world's loggerhead sea turtle nests, this region plays a crucial part in the continuation of the species, harboring an impressive number of nests — one for every 3 feet of beach.
All eyes are set on more than 10-mile beach that stretches from the northern Palm Beach County line (Jupiter Island) south to the northern border of John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. It is here that sea turtles find a home during their nesting season, which lasts until October.
After loggerhead nests record in Palm Springs boomed last year, with over 16,000 documented nests, all efforts must be now made to ensure the species' successful reproduction by preserving its nesting grounds. Volunteers and conservationists take on the task of monitoring the sand strip, which also accommodates 15 percent of Florida's leatherback nests and 13 percent of the state's green sea turtle nests.
According to Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) officials, apart from daily monitoring, conservationists will engage in various research projects, collecting data on hatchling emergence, erosion, tampering, or predatory attacks. This endeavor is aiming to gain more insight into the life of local sea turtle species and raise awareness about the effects of human intrusion into their nesting territories.
"Sea turtles tell us the health of our ocean; the ocean tells us the health of our planet. We are honored to advocate for sea turtles and the ocean and beaches they call home," said Jack E. Lighton, LMC's president and CEO.
"We're hopeful that we can use our findings to better protect sea turtles, and ultimately, our marine ecosystems," added Dr. Justin Perrault, LMC's associate director of research.
How To Help Protect Nest Sites
Since four other state counties, besides Palm Springs, are cited by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as crucial loggerhead nursery areas — namely Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin — conservationists invite residing communities to join in their enterprise and take steps to ensure wildlife conservation.
To safeguard nesting females and their hatchlings for the duration on the season, residents are advised to dispose the debris abandoned on the beach, to refrain from making sand castles or leaving behind any objects that may hinder the animals' access to and from the ocean, and to not illuminate areas near the beach — the installation of sea turtle-friendly lighting is recommended instead.
People who wish to observe the nesting animals are asked to do so from a distance and not to position themselves in the turtles' field of vision, so as not to startle them in any way. In the event of stumbling upon weak or confused hatchlings that lost their way to the ocean and wandered on trails or roads near the beach, the small turtles can be taken to Loggerhead Marinelife Center for rescue.
Waterfront residents are cautioned against digging on the beach during the season, interacting with or disturbing the nesting females, or picking up hatchlings headed for the water. Curious observers are not to touch empty egg shells or unhatched eggs, nor should they use flash photography and cell phones to take precious mementos. The use of flashlights and lanterns to make nests more visible at night is discouraged, whereas the harming of the creatures and their sandy homes is strictly prohibited and punishable.
