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APRIL 2024

Please join us as we welcome our nesting Wilson’s Plovers to the shores of Canaveral National Seashore.

Plovers begin to arrive in early March to:

• find a mate 
• select a nesting location 
• lay their eggs
• raise their chicks

Read more to learn about these special birds and how you can help protect them.

From May 1 through October 31, sea turtles emerge from the surf at night to lay their eggs. About a hundred baby turtles emerge from these nests and crawl to the ocean two months later.

Please do the following when on the beach during sea turtle season:

• Don't disturb a turtle that is crawling to or from the ocean or laying eggs. Watch from a distance of at least 30 feet.
• Avoid shining lights on the beach at night as this may frighten away nesting females and, interfere with the hatchlings ability to find the sea.
• Avoid walking or cycling in nesting areas.
• Report any injured or dead sea turtles to any Volusia County Beach Services employee.
• Do not disturb markers or protective screening over turtle nests. These nests are being studied and protected.
• Avoid walking on the beach dunes.
• Don't disturb nesting sea birds.
• Don't litter. Cigarette butts, fishing line, and other trash can harm the animals and birds along the beach.

There’s nothing wrong with playing in the sand, making sand castles, and digging holes. But everyone should leave the beach as pristine and smooth as they find it.

Maybe families can make hole fill-in a fun part of their beach clean-up. It’s a valuable chore and one that most kids would love to take care of. Make it a game. See who can kick in the most sand! Who gets to knock over the mermaid beach sculpture?! It only takes a minute, people. And if you’re not a hole-digger please fill in any holes you see while taking that sunset stroll.

Those holes we love to create can do a lot of damage to innocent and helpless sea creatures. We’re playing in their backyard.

APOLLO BEACH VISITOR CENTER HOURS

9AM - 5PM - Open Every Day

To learn about activities at either Apollo or Playalinda click the links below:

Take a look at the variety of activities in the Apollo District, including plant walks, bird walks, and canoeing Mosquito Lagoon. On Friday, April 19th, there will be a special program on "Women's Fight for the Environment in the Twentieth Century" with Leslie Kemp Poole, author, meeting at the Visitor Center auditorium.