Sea Turtle Association offers nest adoption to promote protection
BY ARLENE HALL
BGSTA SECRETARY
For a limited time, the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association is offering a unique way to mark a special occasion while also helping local sea turtles nesting on Gasparilla Island. “Adopting” a sea turtle nest can be that unusual birthday gift for the person who has everything, a special way to commemorate a family beach vacation or events such as weddings and anniversaries, or a meaningful way to honor the memory of a loved one. It can also just be a great way for individuals and businesses to show support for our local sea turtles.
Unbeknownst to many, the BGSTA does not receive state or federal budget allocations to conduct its important work to protect, monitor, and gather data on the nesting habits of our local sea turtles. The organization must rely on a combination of grants and generous donations from various entities and individuals. In 2023, the BGSTA began offering the Adopt-a-Nest donation opportunity and it was such a huge success that it is being expanded for the 2024 season. This year’s program kicked off on June 1, 2024.
BGSTA Fundraising Chair Lisa Turan, who coordinates the program, explained, “While all Adopt-a-Nests are just symbolic adoptions of a sea turtle nest, the $125 tax-deductible donation directly aids our organization in protecting these endangered species by helping with the cost of nest marking supplies like stakes and screens, office supplies for documenting nest data for FWC, and our volunteer support costs like the toll bridge passes.” Through the program, an Adopt-a-Nest “parent” will receive various items as a thank you for their donation, including:
• A nest stake with a turtle-shaped wooden plaque with their name (or a designated name) that is prominently displayed at the nest on the beach throughout the nest’s incubation period (approximately 45-70 days).
• An Adoption Certificate emailed to them upon nest assignment.
• An email notification when their adopted nest has hatched.
• Periodic photographs of the nest emailed over the course of the incubation period, when possible.
• A final package – once the nest has hatched and has been excavated/inventoried – that contains pertinent nest data (e.g., number of eggs laid, species, date of hatch), any additional photos of the nest/eggs/hatchlings, and the actual stake plaque that was displayed on the nest.
“As a new feature this year, our local Adopt-a-Nest parents MAY have the opportunity to attend the excavation and inventory of their adopted nest, if their schedule and the BGSTA’s schedule allows,” announced Turan.
Although the sea turtle nesting season goes from May 1 through October 31, the opportunity to adopt a sea turtle nest is very limited and adoptions are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. For information about the Adopt-a-Nest program and to sign up as an adoptive “parent,” please see the BGSTA website at bocagrandeseaturtles.org
All activities are conducted and authorized under FWC Marine Turtle Permit #MTP-24-123.
At Florida State Parks:
Gasparilla: 17 loggerhead
Cayo Costa: 183 loggerhead
Don Pedro: 97 loggerhead,
1 green turtle
Stump Pass: 132 loggerhead
