I see you are a night owl! 1 a.m. and posting? Cyndee, this is important information to get out to tourists and locals to please take care of our turtles. I love going down to the beach during hatching season. It is amazing to watch all those little babies finding their way to the water. 5 stars from me because this is important to get out to the public. Thanks for posting about Florida's turtle and beaches. Katerina

Cyndee what a great post about the beaches in FL. I love the show you have about the wildlife. It is so important not to disturb the baby turtle nest and let them develop naturally. We all want to be able to enjoy the beaches for many years and we also want many generations after us to be able to as well.

I have never been to Sand Key beach but now I will add it to my list of places to go.  It is beautiful.  I grew up near ocean and don't get to it much any more, so it was great to see the photos.  Great post Cyndee!

Katerina - thank you for keeping me company in the wee hours - I recently took so many great shots I wanted to get them posted and shared them before I lost my thoughts on it.   

Ashley - when we first moved on the beach I could never understand why they stressed not leaving a backporch light on and then it made perfect sense that the turles hatch and head towards the moon light - well now we know all our bright lights can look like the moon to them and be disasterous  

Joanne - It's a beautiful place - it's still hard for me to believe that you can walk 100 yards and have no one around you - it's amazing.

We also stress taking the convenient paths and not damaging the sea oats and ground cover that help protect our beaches and homes.   

Cyndee - my favorite photos of my last trip to the beach was the sea turtles.... although they were in Grand Cayman - they are so precious everywhere.... wonderful use of RES - keeping the beaches clean is more than just the beauty - the wild life depends on us to pick up after ourselves.... way to go

Thesa - thank you - I love being able to present the photos in a way that can share a story - thanks for taking time to share your experience too.  

Cyndee, great show and I know you love and care about your community and beaches in so many ways.

Great shots Cyndee...  My wife and I are early birds so he had an opportunity to see the migration into the water one morning.  That was before my blogging days so I didn't have a camera with me.

Cyndee--We were in the Gulf Shores area, Orange Beach, AL a few years ago when they were rebuilding the beaches and replanting the grass. Being from the north we were unaware of how the beaches are affected not only by storms but mostly by uncaring people who do not take the time or effort to protect the awesome natural resource that draws so many to Florida and Alabama beaches from the northern states. I have seen protect the manatee signs before but not the sea turtle signs. Good information for all.

Missy - I'm just always blown away with what great beaches we have access to here - it's not until you go to other beaches that you realize how lucky we really are.

Oh man Dan - I don't go anywhere without my camera now - even to a great Clearwater beach resturant last night I was getting the piano bar on movie for Youtube (LOL)   

Teri - 50-65 days after the female turtles nest the hatchlings break free - sometimes as many as 100 hatchlings make their way back to the ocean.

5 species of turtles are found here and they deposit between 40,000 and 70,000 nests in FLorida annually making us the MOST important nesting area in the United States.  

We have never been to Sand Key Beach. Sounds like a beautiful place. Makes us want to come out to visit. Thanks for sharing the facts on such a beautiful place.

Excellent job at protecting Sand Key Beach, Cyndee!!!

Hi Cyndee! Looks like we done did it again! Love your slide show and photos! It is important to keep our beaches clean and turtles safe. I wish they didn't allow beach driving here, I don't understand why they do. It's not safe for humans, animals or the enviroment.

Florida is full of natural wonders...

the first time I came here and all the lizards were running beneath my feet... I thought they were like mice or something... they're completely harmless, though... often cute and help eat bugs!

My back yard is full of frogs of all shapes and sizes because I live near a canal... but with the waterfowl, turtles, fish, frogs etc this is a great place to watch the animals!

nice post!

Great article Cyndee!  The beauty of our beaches is so sacred and the special animals need to continue to have a safe home.   This is a great guide for Clearwater tourists to show how to keep our beaches beautiful! 

Cyndee, what a great post on Sand Key Beach.  I'm glad they are doing something for the turtles.  The population here is starting to get larger..which is good!  Their numbers were so low for so long.

Cyndee,

Nice use of the virtual tour to show off Sand Key Beach.  I love turtles so I am glad to see local beaches protecting them.  Your video of the beach reminded me of a phrase "Take nothing but pictures - leave nothing but footprints."