Green sea turtles return to nest on Sanibel
UPDATE: With more than 650 nests currently incubating on Sanibel and Captiva, SCCF’s sea turtle team is asking for extra eyes on the beach after the thunderstorms from Tropical Storm Elsa pass by. If you see any exposed sea turtle eggs or hatchlings on the beach or in the dunes, contact the Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663.
On June 30, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that its sea turtle team has documented 12 green sea turtle nests on Sanibel within the last few weeks.
The team has been able to identify four different individual nesters, two of which have been seen on Sanibel in years past and were part of a satellite tag tracking project in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“Most of the nesting on Sanibel and Captiva is primarily by loggerhead sea turtles, so a different species is always extra exciting,” research associate Andrew Glinsky said. “Based on the number and timing of nests, there could possibly be as many as two more green sea turtles that we have yet to positively ID.”
One of the green turtles, named Gardenia, was seen nesting recently during the day. SCCF sea turtle volunteer Nancy Riley was fortunate to witness the event and captured a photo from a safe distance.
As of June 30, Sanibel had 440 loggerhead nests and Captiva had 139 loggerhead nests as hatching season is ramping up on the islands.
Volunteer Irene Nolan recently did an inventory of the first loggerhead nest laid this season. Her egg count showed that 132 hatchlings emerged from the nest on the east end of Sanibel. As of June 30, nine nests on both islands had hatched, with nearly 1,000 hatchlings.
To report any issues with nests, nesting turtles or hatchlings, call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663. For tips on how to safely share the shore with sea turtles, visit SanCapLifeSavers.org.