Sea turtle season gets an early start
Survey teams from designated zones along St. Johns County’s 40 miles of coastline are getting ready for another sea turtle nesting season which officially begins locally on May 1 and runs through Oct. 31.
“We are gearing up for another exciting season,” commented Tara Dodson, environmental supervisor of St. Johns County Growth Management Department.
“Our nesting numbers have been steady and consistent since 2010 with average nesting staying above 600. It is important to note that before 2010 our average nesting numbers were around 250.”
Dodson advised that some of the Florida Wildlife Commission sea turtle patrol volunteers may begin patrolling on April 15.
“FWC outlines the sea turtle nesting season to begin on April 15 even though our local ordinance states it begins on May 1,” Dodson explained. “All for good reasons since for the past three years we have had nests recorded before May 1 on some of our beaches.”
While the 2020 nesting season wasn’t a record, it came close with a total of 853 nests which produced an estimated 56,533 hatchlings. Six hundred fifty-six of the nests were on the north beaches, 159 on Anastasia Island and 38 at Matanzas Inlet South. The counts included 784 Loggerheads, 48 Greens, 20 Leatherbacks and one Kemp’s-Ridley. The 2020 numbers were short of the record set in 2019 when St. Johns County recorded more than 1,100 nests.
The turtle nesting process
Once nests are identified, members of the survey teams will stake and rope them off and continue to monitor them until the eggs hatch. Sea turtles can weigh between 89 pounds to 2,000 pounds. Nesting occurs usually at night. The female turtle drags her body from the ocean to a dunes area where she digs a nest with her back flippers and deposits approximately 100 eggs per nest. She then covers the eggs with sand and returns to the sea leaving the fate of the anticipated offspring to the elements and volunteer caretakers. Left undisturbed, after approximately two months, the eggs hatch sending the 2-inch long hatchlings seaward. It’s estimated that only 1 in 100 hatchlings will survive.
What you should know about sea turtle protection restrictions
Starting May 1, public vehicular access to authorized driving beaches will begin each day at 8 a.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. St. Johns Sheriff’s deputies, St. Augustine Beach Police and Beach Services will start directing vehicles off the beaches as early as 6:30 p.m. Ramp gates will be locked at 7:30 p.m. Drivers of vehicles still on the beaches past 7:30 p.m. may have to wait for law enforcement officials to unlock the gate. The driver may also be subject to a citation.
Lights at night can be a problem for the arriving turtles. Beach lighting will be monitored to assure that residents and businesses are in compliance with the county’s beach lighting code. All beachfront properties are required to eliminate non-compliant interior and exterior lights that are visible from the beach. Beach patrons should comply with the sea turtle lighting ordinance by not using bright white lights and turning off or shielding any lights that can be seen from the beach.
For safety to the turtles as well as humans, beach visitors are asked fill in any holes or ruts in the sand.
Dodson reminds the public that the law prohibits leaving chairs, tents and objects on the beaches overnight. Law enforcement officers are authorized to remove the items.
Beach patrons are reminded to maintain a safe distance if they encounter a sea turtle or other ocean animals on the beach. Don’t push it back into the water as it may need medical attention. If you come across a nesting turtle, leave the animal alone as it needs space. Call the SJCSO dispatch 904-824-8304 or FWC 1-888-404-3922 to report a distressed turtle or other sea animal.
Music by the Sea Concerts update
The St. Augustine Beach Civic Association is in the process of finalizing details for the 2021 Music by the Sea Concerts which are scheduled to begin May 26 at Pier Park. Bill Jones, association president, and other association officers are working with the county regarding the serving of food by local restaurants and eateries. What he did share is that the opening concert on May 28 will feature the classic and southern rock music by Those Guys. The free concerts will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and continue through Sept. 1. Because of COVID-19 distancing and other restrictions, tickets will be required for each concert. Ticketing and other information is expected to be available after May 10 at freebeachconcerts.com
Taste of St. Augustine
The Taste of St. Augustine returns to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 25. The event, which was canceled last year because of COVID-19 restrictions, will feature a variety of culinary dishes from restaurants around the St. Augustine area. More than 20 restaurants will compete for the prestigious TOStA (Taste of St. Augustine) awards, with categories including Best Family Dining, Best Ethnic, Best Upscale and Best Dessert, as well as People’s Choice to be voted on by patrons of the event.
Admission is $5. Children 11 and under are admitted free. Food and beverage tickets cost $1 each, with most “tastes” costing between two to five tickets. Entertainment will include Josh Ford & The Groove Bender Country Duo at 11 a.m., Johnson-Burns at 1 p.m. and Chillula at 3 p.m. Parking at the Amphitheatre is free.
The Race to the Taste, a 5K run/walk starting and ending at the Amphitheatre will begin at 11 a.m. The course will go through Anastasia State Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Registered runners will receive two free admissions to The Taste of St. Augustine. Proceeds from both “The Taste” and “The Race” will benefit EPIC Behavioral Healthcare, a nonprofit serving St. Johns County families since 1973. For information on Race to the Taste including registration, visit racetothetaste.org
For information, including vendors, sponsors and hotel partners, call 904-829-3295 or visit epicbh.org.
Arbor Day tree give-away
The Wednesday Market at Pier Park will host an Arbor Day event including a tree give-away program April 28 during its regular hours of 8 a.m. to noon. The event is sponsored by the St. Augustine Beach Tree Board and Beautification Advisory Committee as part of the Cities National Tree Friendly Certification and National Arbor Day Celebration. Three different types of trees will be available. There will also be an informal tree planting ceremony by the bocce ball courts near the old City Hall building at Pier Park. For information visit staugbch.com.
Have news to share about people and events on Anastasia Island or the adjoining areas? Send your information about people and events to staugbeachwatch@aol.com or call 904-471-4851.
CORRECTION: A previous version of the story listed the incorrect date for an Arbor Day tree giveaway in St. Augustine Beach. The event will be from 8 a.m. to noon on April 28 at the Wednesday Pier Farmers Market at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Park at 350 A1A Beach Blvd. Updated about 3:40 p.m. on April 12, 2021.