Summer is sea turtle nesting season

When we came upon the two loggerhead sea turtles, they appeared to be basking in the sun on the surface of Boca Grande Pass's blue water. Their baldish heads resembled those of old men, but their eyes seemed kid-like curious.

Sea turtle sightings may be common during summer months, but the excitement of seeing one of these creatures never diminishes for wildlife watchers, beach-goers and boaters.

The turtles spend almost all of their lives submerged. Even though they must breathe air for oxygen, they usually do it quickly — an explosive exhale and quick inhalation. Just enough time usually to hear it, turn and see the huge body already feet below the water.

But not this day, not for us. We were idling in our 21-foot powerboat, using the depth finder to get to the spot in the mouth of Charlotte Harbor where water is 80 feet deep. Just for fun. Just to see how blue it looked. Just because we thought maybe we'd see some tarpon rolling on the surface.

Such is summer on the harbor and Pine Island Sound, Estero Bay and the Gulf. Only this time, we got lucky. Or better.

COURTESY PHOTO Loggerhead sea turtles nest on Southwest Florida beaches from May 1 through Oct. 31. To see one turtle is lucky; to see two less than 20 feet apart is skin-prickly. When they didn't dive right away, that was pricklier, despite the throbbing heat.

It only lasted a minute or two — not even enough time for one of us to grab the camera and get the lens on.

But it felt long as they looked at us and we at them.

Only a few hours earlier, my husband, daughter and friends had discovered a new crawl on Cayo Costa that left distinct marks in the sand. A female had come the night before from the Gulf to a dune to lay probably 100 pliable ping-pong ball sized eggs in a nest chamber she dug. We know this not because we looked (never touch a nest, please) but because we know that's the cycle of life for turtles.

Finding the flipper tracks and seeing the freshly turned sand by the dune also was a Discovery Channel moment.

"This year's sea turtle nesting season is following the trend that we witnessed in 2007 — a drop in the number of loggerhead nests," said Eve Haverfield, head of Turtle Time Inc., the Fort Myers-based nonprofit charged with reporting and tallying turtle nesting and activity.

The group works diligently during nesting season, which runs from May 1 through Oct. 31. It found 29 nests in the first two months on Bonita Beach, Big Hickory Island, Fort Myers Beach and Bunche Beach. In 2007, it had documented 28 nests by the same time.

"In general, loggerhead sea turtles nest every other year so the lower data are not surprising," Haverfield said. "Last year at this time we enjoyed monitoring 57 nests, but we remain optimistic that we will find more sea turtle nests yet this season."

You can help, whether you're a resident, a beach-goer, a boater or a tourist.

Remove beach furniture in the evening so momma turtles don't face obstacles coming ashore to nest. Pull curtains closed if you live along the Gulf; shield or turn off lights visible from the beach; and never shine a flashlight on a sea turtle. Report any vehicle that's on the beach in the evening to the sheriff's office.

You can report hooked, injured or dead turtles to Haverfield, who works closely with the state, at 481-5566, or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-FWCC. Get more info at www.turtletime.org.

— Betsy Clayton is a freelancer based on Pine Island a nd also is Lee County Parks & Recreation's waterways coordinator. Contact her at boatingbybetsy@ yahoo.com.

WHO LIVES HERE?

Loggerhead: Most common; nest on local beaches; average 350 pounds

Kemp's Ridley: Most endangered; average 100 pounds; seen in back bays here but primarily nests in Mexico

Green: Occasionally spotted around Sanibel and southern Collier County's Ten Thousand Islands; upwards of 400 pounds

Leatherback: Nests on east coast and Panhandle; can weigh 2,000 pounds

Hawksbill: Occasionally seen in the Gulf; nest in the Caribbean; weighs 250 pounds