Day after day, the Gasparilla Island turtles continue to crawl onto their island sanctuaries to begin life anew - five nests on Sunday, four on Monday and three on Tuesday.

The same holds true for Manasota Key and Little Gasparilla Island, too.

Some of the early nests are already giving birth, however, and hatchlings are having a bit more trouble. Some are being misled fatally by artificial light.

"Please remind everyone to please remove all furniture from the beach and to turn off all lights that could effect the hatchlings," said Norma Jean Zvosec of the Coastal Wildlife Club. "Remind them that they go toward the brightest light."

A fatal disorientation occurred near the Light House condos and the Boca Grande Beach Club south of the range light.

"Some of the little turtles went toward a light on in that area instead of the water," Zvosec said. "A bird or ghost crab must have gotten them because we followed their tracks and they just ended. Reading about how many big turtles have been found dead in the oil spill we need all hatchlings to go to the water - not to a light left on by someone."

Gasparilla Island turtle nesting followed up its biggest seven-day stretch of the season, which began May 1, with another strong week ending Friday, July 23.

Twenty-seven new turtle nests increased the Gasparilla Island season total to 222, including another endangered green sea turtle nest to bring the total to four. The island turtle count now trails last season's totals by just 14 percent or 37 nests.

Experts blame cold winter weather for delayed and reduced nesting. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill also is killing turtles before they can reach a beach.

2010 nesting numbers at Manasota Key beaches and on Little Gasparilla Island are also gaining after a second straight strong week.

The 80 Little Gasparilla Island turtle nests are down 19 percent from the 99 established this time last year compared with a month ago when the deficit was more than twice as large..

On Manasota Beach, where the greatest number of turtles nest in all of Southwest Florida, 1,321 have laid eggs compared with 1,404 at this time a year ago - a difference of less than 6 percent.

The CWC watches for green and loggerhead sea turtles, and Kemp's Ridleys as well as many endangered birds.

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