'Dark, flat and clear': How the Amelia Island community protects nesting sea turtles

I would like to give a shout-out to both the city of Fernandina Beach and Nassau County for being advocates and protectors of the sea turtle nesting season. Both the city and the county have in place protective ordinances, they are enforced, and they educate the public. The city and the county are very positive, receptive and easy to work with.”

Bill Bokram

On Thursday, May 14, a sea turtle was released at Main Beach as part of the Wild Amelia Festival. A crowd of people watched as a juvenile green turtle named London Fog was returned to the ocean. London Fog was found cold- stunned in January on Amelia Island and was rehabilitated at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. 

Ronda and Bill Bokram told me, “When rehabilitated turtles are about to be released, they are visibly excited, moving their flippers like crazy!”

Ronda and Bill Bokram are passionate and enthusiastic about their duties as president and vice president of Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch. When they moved here 12 years ago, one of the first things they did was sign up to volunteer for AISTW. At that time, the organization was run by Mary Duffy, who founded it in the mid-1980s. 

“Mary is the best teacher we could have, she is dedicated, with very high standards. Mary is staying involved in the organization as a consultant, continuing to share her wealth of knowledge with us!” said Ronda Bokram.

I asked Ronda what she liked most about being a sea turtle nest monitor. She replied, “What I love most is the opportunity to interact and educate people. People you meet on the beach at excavations or when you are finding a nest, they love the animals and the environment, they are concerned about endangered species. People of all ages, I love passing on knowledge because you really want the kids to get the excitement and understanding.”

The sea turtle nesting season on Amelia Island is from May 1 to Oct 31.

Bill shared with me the three most important ways in which the community can create a positive environment for nesting sea turtles on Amelia Island. It is summed up by the slogan, "Dark, Flat and Clear."

• The Leave No Trace ordinance is important because it states that the beaches must be clear of personal items after 8 p.m. Sea turtles cannot back up; they can only move forward, so tents, chairs and large holes can hinder the nesting process. If you dig holes, fill them in before you leave.

• No driving on the beach at night from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. ensures the beaches are safe for female turtles to crawl ashore and lay their eggs. 

• Sea turtle-safe lighting is required by both the city and the county and is regulated by code enforcement. When sea turtle hatchlings emerge from their nests, they crawl towards the brightest area, which in nature is the horizon, leading them to the ocean, but lights from other sources can confuse them. 

A major danger that sea turtles face is ingesting plastic bags and balloons, which can be fatal. Our community has the power to minimize these dangers. Trash should never enter the ocean ecosystem, and helium balloons can be avoided altogether. Sea turtles mistake both plastic bags and balloons for jellyfish, which is their natural prey. The small pleasure people get from enjoying a helium balloon is not worth the risk of injuring a sea turtle. 

AISTW performs excavations of sea turtle nests three days after the hatchlings have left for the sea. These are public events and will start in the middle of July. This is an exciting experience for all ages, but especially for children. Check the AISTW website for excavation dates. 

If you encounter a sea turtle injured, dead or resting on an Amelia Island beach, please do not approach it, keep your distance, and call the AISTW at 904-583-1913. If you see a mother turtle laying eggs at night, please stay back, do not use a flashlight or take a picture. If disturbed, she might waste precious energy, abandon laying her eggs, and return to the sea.