think + drink presents From Nest to Sea: Protecting Anna Maria Island’s Sea Turtles
On summer nights, the Gulf’s edge becomes a nursery.
By Edit Sarasota Staff
On summer nights, the Gulf’s edge becomes a nursery. A female sea turtle hauls herself through the sand, leaves a clutch of eggs above the high-water line, and returns to the water; weeks later, hatchlings emerge and make their perilous way toward the horizon. For Sarasota and Manatee County, this ancient ritual is both a seasonal wonder and a responsibility—one that will take center stage at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature this fall.
The museum’s think + drink series, presented by Mosaic, brings science into an informal, social setting, pairing thoughtful presentations with beer, wine, and concessions. Its upcoming program, “From Nest to Sea: Protecting Anna Maria Island’s Sea Turtles,” will focus on the animals that draw residents and visitors to the coast each nesting season, as well as the people working quietly to give them a better chance of survival.
Sea turtles have persisted for more than 100 million years, but the modern shoreline presents hazards their ancestors never faced. Artificial lighting can lure hatchlings away from the Gulf. Beach furniture and recreational equipment can obstruct nesting females. Plastic pollution, coastal development, and human disturbance add further pressure to species already navigating a changing environment.
The evening’s presentation will explore the lives of nesting turtles and hatchlings, while introducing the work of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, a community-based conservation group that monitors nests and helps protect them from human threats. The organization’s efforts offer a useful reminder that conservation is not confined to laboratories or distant wildernesses. Along a busy local beach, it can mean dimming a light, clearing a path through the sand, keeping a respectful distance, or simply understanding why those small choices matter.
Held beneath the Planetarium’s domed sky, the program promises a particularly apt setting for considering creatures whose lives are governed by moonlight, tides, and instinct. It also invites a broader question familiar to anyone who loves this coast: how can a place remain welcoming to both people and wildlife?
“From Nest to Sea” takes place Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at The Planetarium at The Bishop, 201 10th St W. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. Preregistration is required; admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members, with reduced rates for guests under 17. Planetarium seating is first come, first served, and refreshments will be available for purchase.