Sand Art and why I am not a beach ambassador.

It's a sad coincidence that tourists and turtles frequent the shoreline in larger numbers at the same time of year. The tourists are vacationing and the sea turtles are nesting. A difficult combination because vacationers like to dig holes and make sand art. Who doesn't? The thing is holes and obstructions on the beach can cause mommy sea turtles to get stuck as they make their difficult journey up to lay their eggs. Later in the season, baby sea turtles, just hatched, can get stuck or blocked as they try to get to the water. So that magnificent hole or delightful sand art could kill a turtle. That would be awful. 

But at the end of the day, if we all just fill in the holes and leave the sand flat, take home our trash and use turtle-friendly lighting at night, the turtles will get their part done and let us have the whole day to play. The county is really pretty good about putting up signage and the rental companies set out flyers about nesting sea turtles, but I think people just lose their minds a little when they vacation. They are not intentionally mean but often thoughtless. Again, vacation brain could be the problem.

Beach ambassadors do their part to help. I was one of the original TDC beach ambassadors. It was after the BP oil disaster in 2010. We walked up and down the beach in the heat of the day asking visitors fun questions about their stay, taking pictures for social media, answering their questions, and giving out free swag. It really was a fun job. It lasted one season and I loved it. The visitors asked good questions. They were interested. I was kind of sad when it ended. A few years ago the TDC started a volunteer beach ambassador program connected to the amazing, thoughtful, and kind South Walton Turtle Watch group. This new beach ambassador program has turned into a really valuable program with very good people involved. I did it for a few months but now I find I get impatient with people. I think it's just because there are so many people on the beach now. And the tourists don't seem as nice but maybe I'm not as nice, who knows. Anyhow, I am no longer a beach ambassador. Instead, I am posting this to our collective consciousness. Let's all fill in the holes and keep the sand flat at the end of the day. 

And pick up our trash...even the little rubber hair bands which seem to be everywhere.

And blessed be the beach owners that incorporate turtle-friendly lighting, for they shall inherit a share of good karma.

And may God bless our beach ambassadors.

Turtle Nest in the Sand Dune

Deep Holes left Overnight