South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers Jennifer Jones and Bobby Stuart excavate a loggerhead turtle nest July 26. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

South Walton Turtle Watch Group assists USFWS, NOAA and FWC in relocation program

It was a busy morning on South Walton beaches July 26 as South Walton Turtle Watch assisted U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration biologists in relocating sea turtle nests.

The nests are being relocated to the east coast to ensure the sea turtle hatchlings do not encounter oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The eggs are removed within a week of hatching from the nest, placed in coolers with dampened sand from the nest, transported in a specially designed, temperature-controlled truck to the east coast. The eggs are then held under monitored conditions until the hatchlings emerge. When they hatch, they are being released into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Canaveral.
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Posted under Beaches, Environment, Nature

Learn about preserving these ancient and majestic creatures

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A

Thursday, July 22 – 1:30 p.m.

The majestic sea turtles are in the midst of another reproductive season.  Learn the facts about common Sea Turtles at Topsail.  Be a part of an enlightening program and see what you can do to help preserve these awe inspiring creatures of the sea. Park at the Day-Use area on Hwy 30A and take a short walk with park staff to the clubhouse. $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-8330 for more information.
Topsail Hill State Preserve is located at the western end of Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. ::MAP::

Posted under Beaches, Eco tourism adventure, Nature, Parks

Sea turtle eggs removed from a nest on the Fort Morgan Peninsula of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge on June 27, 2010. The nest was the tenth found in the area this year and contained 114 eggs. Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Bonnie Strawser.

Sea turtle hatchlings will get a chance for survival on Florida’s east coast

Sea turtle hatchlings face great challenges when they crawl to the water, swim offshore, and begin their lives in the ocean. They face many dangerous obstacles, both on the beach and in the water – some natural, some because of man – that make survival difficult.

This summer, the hatchlings of these threatened and endangered species emerging from nests on Northwest Florida beaches would face an additional, likely insurmountable obstacle in the form of large amounts of oil from the continuing Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil products could cause problems for hatchlings on the beach, but the highest degree of danger lies in the ocean currents that determine where these young sea turtles go. They are the same currents that determine where the floating oil goes, which would constantly bring the young turtles to the floating oil.
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Posted under Environment

Learn about preserving these majestic creatures at Topsail

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A

Thursday, May 27 – 1:30 p.m.

The majestic sea turtles are gearing up for another reproductive season.  Learn the facts about common Sea Turtles at Topsail.  Be a part of an enlightening program and see what you can do to help preserve these awe inspiring creatures of the sea. Park at the Day-Use area on Hwy 30A and take a short walk with park staff to the clubhouse. $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-8330 for more information.
Topsail Hill State Preserve is located at the western end of Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun

South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers mark off Kemp's Ridley nest. Photo courtesy SWTW

Mother Nature gives our area a special gift for Mother’s Day

A Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle nested in South Walton on May 8. This is quite unusual as there were no Kemp’s Ridley nests laid last year in South Walton, however, there were 38 loggerhead nests in 2009.
Each year from May 1 – October 31, there are four species of Florida sea turtles that nest along the beach in South Walton County – Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback and on occasion, Kemp’s Ridley.

About Kemp’s ridley
Of the five sea turtle species that roam the Gulf of Mexico, the Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) is the smallest with an average length of 23 to 27.5 inches (58.5 to 70 cm) and average weight of 100 pounds (45 kg). The Kemp’s ridley is the only sea turtle with an almost circular upper shell. The young are dark gray in color but change as they mature. Adults are olive green above and yellow below.
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Posted under Nature

Photo courtesy Florida Audubon

Currently donations and supplies along with volunteers to answer phones are most needed

To report oiled or injured wildlife in an area after it has been designated as oiled, call 800-557-1401

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is now the point of contact for local response to oiled wildlife in the Walton County area. They have put in a request with BP’s training coordinator to conduct volunteer training for the general public in our area, but have not received a response as yet.

There is a bird wash station being set up by Tri-State, the contracted response group in Pensacola and ECWR have been in contact with them and hope to visit the site soon. They are also actively working to set up their own holding and possibly washing stations locally as well.

They are now ready and able to respond to oiled wildlife, and are on call 24/7. Oiled wildlife will be suffering from shock, hypo or hyperthermia, and stress and is typically stabilized for 24 – 48 hours before washing begins. Calling them directly at 850-650-1880 and this will save valuable time in the treatment process.
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Posted under Birding, Environment

South Walton Turtle Watch Group keeps track of
South Walton nesting sea turtles

Loggerhead nesting turtle. Photo courtesy South Walton Turtle Watch

South Walton turtle nest season runs May 1 – October 31

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtles, are among the oldest creatures on earth, and have remained essentially unchanged for 110 million years.

However, they face an uncertain future. Illegal harvesting, habitat encroachment, and pollution (physical and light) are only some of the things sea turtles must face as each species struggles to stay alive.

We are fortunate to have a local group of dedicated volunteers, South Walton Turtle Watch, who monitor our beaches on a daily basis during the turtle season.

Led by Sharon Maxwell, the group was formed in 1995. There are 40 members, which 25 have state-issued permits. The volunteers walk the beach in the early morning hours, and have a designated area each monitors for turtle tracks and nests.

It is a complicated process once a nest is discovered. First, it must be determined that it is a true nest and not a false crawl. The tracks are measured and it is determined by the size and markings what type of turtle it is. If a nest is too close to the tide line, it must be moved to prevent the drowning of the eggs. Then there is a barricade constructed to mark off and protect the nest. And it is all done before 9 a.m.

The group continues to monitor each nest until the hatchlings emerge and head into the Gulf of Mexico.

“We, as sea turtle volunteers, go through many hours of training so that we may help these wonderful sea turtles. We are learning more each year. That is why we can get sea turtle permits, which allows us to help the endangered and threatened animals,” Maxwell said.

With each attempted nesting, the turtles face an uphill battle. Problems with visitors erecting tents and digging holes, creates confusion for the female attempting to nest, or in some instances, death if she falls into a hole dug by a careless visitor. Read More…

Posted under Beaches, Nature

South Walton Turtle Watch and SWCC plan day of family fun

The South Walton Turtle Watch and South Walton Community Council are hosting Turtle Fest 2010 on May 1 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The festival will be held at the Gulf Place Town Center located at Scenic Hwy. 30A and CR 393 in Santa Rosa Beach.

Games, a puppet show, a turtle craw and booths dedicated to the education will be at the festival for children of all ages to enjoy. Children will have the opportunity to visit each booth and receive a stamp on their “Turtle Passport,” after receiving all the stamps they can go and collect a turtle safe flashlight.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

A leatherback sea turtle digs a nest on a Florida beach while a young boy practices responsible beach behavior by not disturbing the female's nesting patterns. The leatherback is the largest living turtle, reaching a weight of 1,500 pounds in some cases. (FWC photo)

Sea turtle nesting in Northwest Florida begins May 1

Sea turtle nesting season has begun on some of Florida’s beaches and will begin in earnest all over the state in the coming weeks. On some southeastern Florida beaches, endangered leatherback sea turtles are already laying eggs. This is good news after a winter that saw thousands of cold-stressed sea turtles successfully rescued and returned to the sea by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), with the assistance of many partner agencies and volunteers.

The start of nesting season means beach residents and visitors need to follow a few precautions to ensure a successful season.

People should manage lights along the beach to prevent disorienting the female who comes ashore at night, according to biologists with the FWC. To do this, shield lights needed for human safety so they are not visible from the beach, or turn them off when not in use.  The instincts of the ancient sea creature tell her to proceed toward the brighter horizon over the ocean. Bright lights on the landward side of the beach can confuse the nesting sea turtle and the hatchlings that emerge from the nest. Lights on the beach can lead them away from the water.
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Posted under Beaches, Nature

Locals prepare for peaceful protest against pending legislation on Feb. 13, 2010

As the pending legislation for near shore oil drilling looms over the coastlines of Florida’s beautiful beaches, local businessman, Dave Rauschkolb has taken action to protest and bring awareness to the public.

Rauschkolb has created ‘Hands Across The Sand’  as an action dedicated to protecting our coastline and waterways from the devastating environmental effects of oil exploration and support industries, and are organizing a protest along the Gulf Coast.

Mission Statement
1. To raise awareness about pending Florida legislation to drill for oil in our coastal waters.
2. To organize a Gulf coast wide and perhaps a statewide coastal movement to protest this legislation. This protest will bring thousands of Florida citizens to our beaches and will draw metaphorical and actual lines in the sand; human lines in the sand against near shore oil drilling in our waters. This event will be held on Saturday February 13, 2010.
3.  To convince our Legislators and Governor to drop any and all Legislation that would allow this folly.

Walton County area beach locations:

Main Protest Site: Seagrove Beach to Grayton Beach
(parking in Seaside and at the Van Ness Butler Jr. Beach Access between Watercolor and Seaside)

Additional Protest Sites with ample parking: Blue Mountain Beach Access, Dune Allen Beach Access, Ed Walline Beach Access, Gulfview Heights Beach Access, Inlet Beach Access, Miramar Beach Access

For more information, go to http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/

Posted under Birding, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, paddle/surf/boat