Highland Beach Sea Turtle Team

06/01/2026

June arrived and so did the green sea turtles, right on schedule! And our first leatherback nest hatched!! Feels like summer!!

05/31/2026

Along with the temps, our nesting season is heating up. We have closed out May with more leatherback and loggerhead nests as compared to last year.
Although we still haven't broken our record-breaking year from 2023, we still have 3 more busy months ahead of us.
On our 2.8 miles (of paradise), our volunteers are busy recording data, educating the residents about lighting and obstacles on the beach. And with the start of June, we should start seeing hatches very soon.

05/29/2026

Today we are sharing a different kind of rescue story. This little bird is a European Starling; it was brought into Gumbo Limbo by a neighbor that found it wedged between the windshield and hood of his car.

I got a message from GL about the bird asking if we wanted to care for it until it fledged and being an invasive the Wildlife Centers would euthanize. And I knew just the person!

Beverly Aluise Knight - Bev, one of our very long-time volunteers is the most caring, compassionate, animal lover I know.
I texted her the picture of the tiny bird and without hesitation she responded yes, she was going to go and pick him up.

This morning she sent me the video telling me that she feeds him every 30 minutes and he tries to swallow her finger when she feeds him, but he sleeps thru the night!

A few years ago, Bev took in a tiny house sparrow and rehabbed it to fully grown, so this little guy is in good hands and now is a member of the menagerie at her home.

She already is doing her research on Starlings and human raised Starlings cannot be released so Bev, I guess you need to give he/she a name soon!! 🐦‍⬛

05/24/2026

This season, our turtle nesting surveys have a brand-new team member — Meet Wally a curious, tail-wagging puppy!
With boundless energy and a nose that never stops twitching, he’s joining his humans on early morning beach walks, learning the sights, sounds, and smells of the shoreline.

While he’s not quite ready to help with the science just yet, his joyful presence makes the morning surveys a little brighter.
He watches intently as nests are marked, and data is recorded — as if he knows he’s part of something important.

One day, with training and patience, he might even lend his nose to conservation work.
But for now, he’s a cheerful and oh so cute mascot, reminding us that protecting sea turtles is a job filled with both purpose and heart 💙
WTG Wally and his humans Deby and Dave 🐢🐾🌅

05/23/2026

Today, World Turtle Day we honor those gentle, ancient travelers of our oceans and lands — turtles and tortoises.

Many now face threats from pollution, habitat destruction and climate change.

By making small, eco-friendly choices — like reducing single-use plastics, keeping beaches clean, and supporting wildlife conservation — we can help ensure turtles thrive for generations to come.

Let’s protect their homes, respect their journeys, and take a moment to reflect on the importance of conservation, preservation and what you can do to help.

05/22/2026

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and holiday weekends bring more people to Florida's waters. Extra care is needed while out on the water this weekend.
We are entering into the peak season for sea turtle nesting and turtles are swimming very close to shore, mating and preparing to come ashore to lay their nests.
Boaters please be aware and alert for sea turtles. If you have to cruise into the sea turtle protection zone, go slow and keep a lookout.
Boat strikes are a major cause of injury and death for our sea turtles.
So, please - while you are out enjoying our beautiful waters, remember you are sharing it with the wildlife as well.


https://marinelife.org/conservation/sea-turtle-protection-zone/

05/20/2026

This morning after nesting surveys, our neighboring sea turtle groups gathered to join our friends from Sea Turtle Specialists to release a beautiful juvenile green sea turtle nicknamed Narwhal that had been hooked at the Deerfield pier.
STS did a wonderful makeover while rehabbing the little turtle and if you look at the last two photos, you will see why they named her Narwhal.
Huge amounts of seaweed were washing in, so carrying the little turtle out to a break, Whitney placed her under a wave and in a flash, she was gone, blending in with the seaweed and although I tried, I could not see her come up for a breath.
Swim free and be safe little Narwhal 🐢🌊
Thank you to our friends at Sea Turtle Specialists, our local rehab facility for injured sea turtles in Palm Beach County.

05/20/2026

this is amazing!!

05/14/2026

FWC announced the statewide totals as of April 30th. What incredibly good news for the Leatherback again this year.
On Highland Beach, we have doubled what we were at the end of April 2025.
Very soon our 2nd largest turtle should be visiting our beach. The first green sea turtle nest was documented on May 19th last year and we will keep you posted on what we find out there.
Barely halfway thru May and we have over 100 loggerhead nests. Exciting season so far!!

🐢 2026 Sea Turtle Nesting Season Update 🐢
The 2026 sea turtle nesting season is officially off and with a strong start! 💪

Loggerheads and leatherbacks are both currently outpacing their recent record-breaking years. We can’t wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds!

Here are preliminary statewide totals as of April 30th:
🟠 1,450 loggerhead nests (compared to 796 in 2025, 469 in 2024, 1,400 in 2023, and 271 in 2022)
🟢 3 Kemp’s ridley nests (compared to 1 in 2025, 4 in 2024, 6 in 2023, and 1 in 2022)
🔵 1,008 leatherback nests (compared to 965 in 2025, 831 in 2024, 624 in 2023, and 549 in 2022)
🟣 0 green turtle nests (compared to 0 in 2025, 0 in 2024, 1 in 2023, and 1 in 2022)

💫 Thanks to all the permit holders, volunteers and partners involved in this incredible community science effort, working together to document sea turtle nesting activity across the state!

Check back for monthly updates throughout the season! ✅

📸 Photos: FWC

05/09/2026

We want to recognize and celebrate all the incredible Mother's out there especially our nesting sea turtles.

The female sea turtle journeys thousands of miles to return to the very beach where she was born, but now as a mother. The ocean has been her home, but the beach is her birthplace — and her legacy.

This Mother’s Day, let’s honor that spirit by protecting the beaches, oceans, and ecosystems that sea turtle mothers depend on. Celebrate by giving eco-friendly gifts, please don't release balloons, avoid single use plastic.

Every piece of trash we pick up, every light we dim near nesting sites, and every conservation effort we support helps ensure that future generations — both human and turtle — can thrive.

Here’s to the mothers who guide us home, no matter how far we roam. 🌊💐🐢🩷