Activities For Kids Abound in Sarasota, Florida

Every morning during turtle nesting season from May to October, Longboat Key Turtle Watch Group walks the beach before dawn to see if there is any evidence of turtle racks, known as a “crawl.” They also seek tiny turtle footprints after the eggs are laid, which indicates a nest from which hatchlings have crawled into the Gulf.

As one of the most peaceful, serene beaches in South Florida, it is of little wonder that the turtles make their home here, amid the white-sand beaches where you’ll find Longboat Key Club & Resort and a number of the resort’s Florida monthly rental properties.

This season – Summer ’07 – there are 60 turtle nests in the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key and 51 nests in the Sarasota County portion of Longboat Key. Loggerhead females make their nests by digging with their flippers in the sand, and early risers enjoying Florida monthly rental beach vacations can catch a glimpse.

To describe the intriguing process: First the female makes a ‘body pit’ by digging with her front flippers and rotating her body. After she finishes making the body pit, she digs the egg cavity with her rear flippers, shoveling out sand to create a tear-drop shape. After depositing her eggs into the cavity, she uses her rear flippers to push sand over it. Then the female, at approximately 250 pounds – a true sight for Florida monthly rental guests to behold – will pack the sand down, using her front flippers to refill the body pit, flinging sand in all directions in an effort to disguise the nest.

The Turtle Watch members occasionally include the public, be they locals, resort guests, or Florida monthly rental visitors, when finding these nests. They look for the scattered sand and a mound. Next, the members mark them by placing stakes around them, monitor the nests for hatchings, and finally determine the number of successful hatchings. Amazingly, only 1 in 1,000 loggerhead hatchlings born survive long enough to lay eggs of their own.

Always of interest to Florida monthly rental and resort guests on Longboat Key, loggerhead hatchlings crawl out of their sand nests underground, scoot to the ocean, and swim toward Africa where they stay for approximately 15 years. Then the females make the trip back to their natal beach to make a nest of their own. And another interesting fact: sea turtles spend over 90% of their life in the water.

Among the many amazing natural features the island of Longboat Key has to offer, these incredible creatures and their seasonal egg-laying are a testament to the island’s tranquility and peace, making it the ideal location for individuals and families to enjoy Florida monthly rentals.