A Visitors Guide to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch

If you're planning on visiting Anna Maria Island (AMI) in Florida, you're probably looking forward to  exploring the wildlife in the area. Sea turtle nesting is common in the Gulf of Mexico, and there are many local conservation efforts focused on protecting sea turtles and their hatchlings. It's an incredible sight to see the turtles nesting and hatching, and many visitors come here specifically to experience this.

One of the top organizations looking out for the best interests of sea turtles is
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, usually shortened to AMITW. In this article, we're looking at AMITW's work and how visitors can get involved while you're on  vacation in Anna Maria Island.

An Introduction to AMITW

Photo Credit: tammyrosenfeld0101 via Instagram

• Website: islandturtlewatch.com

• Email: info@islandturtlewatch.com

• Phone number: +1 (941) 301 8434

• Address: PO Box 1114, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218

AMITW is a non-profit organization near Bradenton Beach that has been working on the conservation of turtles and seabirds along the Manatee County coastline since 1983. During that time, the team has monitored more than 17,000 turtle activities and protected more than 8,000 nests. The team predominantly works with loggerheads and green sea turtles within the local ecosystem.

The AMITW team works hard to educate and inform the public about turtles in the local area, and there are plenty of reasons to swing by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch during your next visit to AMI. Let's look at some of the most popular things to do with AMITW.

Take Part in Educational Activities

One of the main advantages of visiting Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch is that there are a lot of educational activities that will teach you about sea turtles and shorebirds. There is an extensive sea turtle monitoring program that is orchestrated by AMITW. The goal of the program is to make sure turtles are protected, have access to the resources they need, and are not disturbed by human activity.

Five species of sea turtles live near the local island beaches, including Loggerhead sea turtles. While a significant amount of attention is paid to sea turtles, there is also a shorebird monitoring program orchestrated by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.

Sadly, there are a lot of birds that are having their habitats threatened as well, and birds suffer serious injuries from time to time. The staff members and volunteers at AMITW work hard to make sure local bird populations have access to the resources they need as well.

During the many educational activities, you can hear more about the challenges faced by local wildlife. You can also learn more about what a nesting beach looks like, take a closer look at some of the turtle eggs, and advocate for local Anna Maria Island sea turtle populations.

Attend Lectures About Sea Turtles

Special lectures take place from time to time and are headed up by Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella and other sea turtle and shorebird experts. One of the most popular activities every week is Turtle Talk Tuesday. This is a great opportunity for people to learn more about the sea turtles that live in the area, what some of the biggest threats are, and what they can do to protect them.

In particular, a lot of lectures focus on sea turtle nesting season, which is why many of the turtles that live in the Gulf of Mexico are most vulnerable. Even though you might come across a sea turtle nest on Holmes Beach, it is important to leave it undisturbed and make sure that sea turtles have the space and privacy they require.

Learn About How You Can Protect Turtles 

In addition, by visiting Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, you can learn more about the rules and regulations surrounding beachfront property. Even though there are a lot of rentals on the beachfront, there are rules related to when you can turn the lights on.

For example, you need to dim your lights in the evening, particularly during sea turtle nesting season, which begins May 1st. It is important for you to dim your lights because they can be very distracting to the sea turtles that live in the area. Unfortunately, hatchlings do not have a very high chance of survival, and lights can cause disorientation for sea turtles when they are trying to find their way back to the ocean.

Furthermore, you should try to avoid using flashlights in the evening. Even though there is nothing wrong with going for a walk on the beach in the evening, you need to turn off artificial lights. They can be scary to sea turtles, and they might end up walking in the wrong direction, which means they could get eaten by other animals.

Discover the Art of Beach Stewardship

When you visit Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, you will also learn more about what it requires to be a good steward of the beaches. Even though people come from all over the world to visit Florida beaches, it is important for you to clean up after yourself.

If you do not clean up the beach, hazards can be created for local sea turtles, which means that they may get sick or injured. In particular, you need to make sure you clean up your trash. There are too many people who leave glass bottles on the beach, which should not be allowed anyway. Many other people leave plastic bags on the beach, which can create choking hazards for sea turtles. Even if the mess is not yours, you should still take a few minutes to clean it up.

Only by working together can we create a clean environment for sea turtles and birds. The professionals at AMITW would be happy to talk to you about how to protect the beaches.

Building Sandcastles and Protecting Sea Turtles in Sunny AMI

AMI is the perfect destination for long, lazy days relaxing on our white sand beaches and splashing around in our clear, blue waters. Nature lovers also won't want to miss out on the many turtle activities arranged by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.