9-2-23
Hi Neighbors,
The SCCF turtle patrol was on our beach yesterday working to uncover sea turtle nests. They said that Hurricane Idalia brought one to three feet of new sand to parts of Sanibel's beaches. As you can see in the attached photo, they were able to dig through to the protective grate. Then they made a ramp so the hatchlings can hopefully climb out easily. Fingers crossed!
Regards,
Robin
7-31-23
Hi Neighbors,
Our Adopt a Beach campaign has ended and your checks have been given to Kelly Sloan at SCCF. Thanks to your generosity, CSM's donation to SCCF is $5100. That total is an excellent result considering all that Hurricane Ian has wrought! Kelly's reaction is the same: This is amazing! Given the circumstances our island is dealing with, I wasn't expecting much this year honestly - and $5100 warms my heart! People make the turtles a priority even when they have so much going on in their own worlds .
Thank you once again for your enthusiasm and support for SCCF and Sanibel's sea turtles!
Best regards,
The CSM Board
7-18-2023
Hi Neighbors,
Below is our latest sea turtle update from SCCF's Amanda Manrique. It includes lots of good news and a chance for us to name a turtle! Don't you think Tina Turner should be honored? This will be the last week for our Adopt a Beach campaign, so if you would like to contribute please send your check ASAP to: Robin Coleman, 4771 Rue Helene, Sanibel, FL 33957. Thank you for your support!
June 9, 2023
Hi CSM Neighbors,
It’s time once again to launch our Adopt a Beach campaign. While it has been a difficult 8½ months since Hurricane Ian, we know that many of you are interested in the welfare of our sea turtles and enjoy helping them thrive. SCCF can definitely use our support!
Old and new Adopt a Beach information:
· The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) started the Adopt a Beach program in 2017.
· Chateaux Sur Mer was the first island neighborhood to participate in SCCF’s endeavor to protect nesting sea turtles.
· Purposes of the Adopt a Beach campaign: for all of us to be well-informed advocates for sea turtles who nest on our shores; to raise $2 for every foot of CSM’s shoreline (we have approximately 1900-2000 feet); to use donated funds (which aren’t co-mingled with SCCF’s general fund) for program supplies, including GPS units, measuring wheels, screening materials to deter predators such as coyotes, nest staking materials, educational signage, fuel for surveys, and a variety of miscellaneous supplies (buckets, mallets, data books, rakes, etc.); SCCF also uses the funds to purchase research supplies such as wildlife cameras to monitor coyote behavior around sea turtle nests. For more information about SCCF’s efforts involving our sea turtles, please visit their website: https://sccf.org/our-work/sea-turtles
· Since 2017, Chateaux Sur Mer has donated $60,550 to Adopt a Beach, including $14,150 in 2022. We are proud of our efforts and are glad to see other island neighborhoods joining us in supporting this worthy program.
· Your contribution is tax deductible and will result in supporting an established SCCF program that benefits sea turtle monitoring and research.
· So far this summer, sea turtles have been active on our beach and as of June 9, we have 20 nests. To see what has happened so far on shoreline close to ours, click on this link which will take you to the CSM website. https://www.chateauxsurmer.org/photos-and-videos You will find photos of SCCF’s turtle patrol investigating a crawl on May 6, when they determined that eggs had been laid. There are also photos and a video of a sea turtle emerging from the gulf in front of Gulf Pines for a very short visit on May 26. It was a thrill to see! To view pictures from previous summers, click on our other Adopt a Beach tabs. Per usual, we will receive periodic sea turtle updates from SCCF, and all information will be posted on the CSM website.
· Be sure to inform your guests and renters that they should remove all beach equipment and supplies when leaving for the day. Holes should be filled and sand castles etc. should be flattened (sorry!) so our turtles have an easier time making their way to and from the gulf.
If you are able, please consider contributing to Adopt a Beach. CSM’s campaign will begin with this email and run through July 17.
Your check should be made out to SCCF and it should be sent to: Robin Coleman, 4771 Rue Helene, Sanibel 33957. Checks will be held until the end of the campaign and then delivered to SCCF.
Thank you for your help!
The CSM Board