In Northeast Florida, sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 to October 31, peaking in June and July, when loggerhead, green, and occasionally leatherback turtles come ashore to lay eggs. Nesting occurs mostly at night, with females digging nests above the high-tide line on beaches like those in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, and Anastasia Island. Loggerheads, the most common, lay about 100-120 eggs per clutch, nesting multiple times per season. Green turtles, less frequent, and rare leatherbacks also nest, with leatherbacks preferring wider, less developed beaches.
Feeding patterns align with this season, as adults migrate to nearshore waters post-nesting. Loggerheads forage on crabs and mollusks in reefs and rocky bottoms, green turtles graze seagrass beds and algae in estuaries and marinas, and leatherbacks target jellyfish offshore. Juveniles, present year-round, feed on plankton and sargassum-based organisms. Post-hatchlings, emerging from nests between July and October, head to open ocean feeding grounds.
Conservation during nesting season includes beach monitoring, nest protection, and reducing light pollution, as hatchlings can become disoriented. Pollution, especially plastics mistaken for food, threatens feeding turtles, risking starvation or injury. Vessel strikes and habitat degradation also impact foraging areas. Volunteers and organizations like the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission track nesting and feeding to protect these species, vital for maintaining seagrass, reef, and jellyfish population balance.