Event includes Tag & Release of Sponsored Loggerhead “Bortie II” in Annual Tour de Turtles
WHO: Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, Bortell’s Lounge and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring (AMITW)
WHAT: Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, along with AMI Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring and Bortell’s Lounge, is inviting guests and the public to attend a “Bon Voyage, Bortie II” sendoff celebration. The event will include the official tagging and release of a nesting female loggerhead sea turtle – “Bortie II” – the resort and its community conservation partners are cosponsoring for the 12th Annual Tour de Turtles.
Created by the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the annual Tour de Turtles “marathon” event uses satellite telemetry to track the migration of turtles released from beaches in Costa Rica, Panama, Nevis, Anna Maria Island and other parts of Florida. The turtle that travels the most miles over the three-month period will be named the winner of this year’s marathon, which begins August 1.
In last year’s event, Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club and Bortell’s Lounge tagged and released a nesting female loggerhead sea turtle – the original Bortie – who won first place in the “People’s Choice.” You can see her story here.
WHEN: Friday, June 21 – 6 a.m. tagging begins, 8:00 a.m. turtle release
(Date and time subject to change depending on weather and the nesting turtle.)
WHERE: Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida (specific location TBD)
Spectators are encouraged to share photos and videos using the hashtag #BetOnBortie
For the latest information about the release of Bortie II, visit the Waterline Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WaterlineResort.