Amelia Island beachfront
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Last year the number of loggerhead sea turtle nests on Amelia Island and elsewhere in Florida were substantially down, very concerning, although experts can’t say for sure why. Hopefully this turtle nesting season in 2008 will see a higher nest count. Some years as many as 150 turtle nests are marked during the season, and other times only 30 or so. (If you want to learn more about sea turtles on Amelia Island, read Amelia Island Living’s article describing the nesting process and what it’s like to attend a turtle nest excavation. Marked turtle nests will begin to be dug up by the Turtle Watch organization after 60 days – starting around mid-July -- to make sure no turtle hatchlings are trapped in the nests. Watching a nest excavation is a wonderful learning experience for both kids and adults.)
A sand dollar found on Amelia Island
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There was one day in the fall of 2006 that I actually found 12 perfectly intact sand dollars along the north end of Amelia Island. What a treasure trove! Note it was, indeed, a very unusual day -- the only day in about 15 years that I found multiple sand dollars. Not sure what brought them in along the beach. The variety of these round sea urchins found here are the “five-slotted sand dollar” Mellita quinquiesperforata.)
A few fishermen were perched along the shore, trying their luck to hook some dinner. Besides a sparse few beachcombers and one couple walking a dog, miles of beachfront was empty on Amelia Island this morning around 8 am. For those looking for a little solitude and time for reflection, the beach in the a.m. is a seaside sanctuary.
Give yourself a treat soon, by taking an early morning walk on the beach. It’s great for the mind and body. Early morning walks on the beach are very peaceful and rewarding. It’s a good time to get in some exercise before the coming heat of the day, now that summer temps have arrived in northeast Florida.
Many who live here are guilty of not going to the beach enough. Try to fit into your busy schedule thirty minutes for some mental “chicken soup,” even if it’s just once a week. Comb the beach at a slow pace, or get in a power walk. I much prefer visiting the shore in the early morning and early evening before dark. But it’s amazing how life gets in the way. Sometimes a month or more goes by without the sand beneath your toes.
Speaking of sand dollars, starfish are also fun to find on the shore. There are days you come across a starfish or two. Again, there was one very unusual day on Amelia Island a few years ago, when the starfish washed up by the pound, literally. Picture multiple beach buckets filled to the brim with starfish. The kids were delighted, and so where the “big” kids.
There’s something about the beach that brings out the kid in all of us. So visit the beach soon. You never know what beach bounty awaits discovery. It’s one of life’s simple pleasures, here in this beach town.
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About the author -- W. B. Lawson has lived on Amelia Island fourteen years and writes tourism, lifestyle, and real estate articles.