The SCCF Coastal Wildlife team, including full-time staff and seasonal interns (see names below)

It takes a lot of work and manpower to protect sea turtles and shorebirds on Sanibel and Captiva — especially during the busy sea turtle and shorebird nesting seasons.

Adopt a sea turtle or shorebird to support our work!

Sea Turtle Surveys

Every summer from April 15 through October, SCCF patrols 18 miles of beachfront shoreline along Sanibel and Captiva Islands to conduct sea turtle nest monitoring activities.

To complete these roughly 180 surveys covering six months, it takes quite a large team of permanent staff, energetic seasonal staff, and a large team of 80-90 passionate volunteers. Over 5,000 volunteer hours are documented in a typical year to accomplish the goals of our nest monitoring program!

Shorebird Surveys

The SCCF shorebird team includes two full-time staff and one seasonal intern who are tasked with regularly monitoring Sanibel, Captiva, and several sites in the surrounding area for state-threatened snowy plovers (Anarhynchus nivosus) and other nesting shorebirds.

A large colony of least terns (Sternula antillarum) nested on the Sanibel Island Causeway this year, and our shorebird team coordinated a stewardship program comprised of 31 volunteers that helped monitor and protect these nests and chicks from May until August.

Nest Relocations & Beach Construction Monitoring

“Our regular monitoring surveys comprise only a singular facet of our objectives undertaken in a given nesting season,” said SCCF Coastal Wildlife Director and Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Kelly Sloan. “This year, for example, our team is also under contract with the Captiva Erosion Prevention District to conduct sea turtle nest relocations in advance of an upcoming beach renourishment project. While many of the regular monitoring responsibilities remain, these surveys require us to relocate nests laid on Captiva.”

The massive nest relocation undertaking requires additional coordination and manpower, and SCCF’s normal staff has tripled on Captiva this season to include four additional interns. Additionally, more frequent shorebird surveys are required on Captiva to ensure that protected species aren’t using the habitat prior to project commencement. 

Many smaller-scale beach construction projects requiring monitoring by SCCF also occur during the course of the nesting season. These include projects such as dune crossover repair and construction, plantings, and other emergency work following hurricanes. All such projects require monitoring and additional staff time to minimize impacts to sea turtles and shorebirds. 

Research

“On top of monitoring and beach construction surveys, our team also conducts several different research projects during any given season,” Sloan said. “This year, we attached satellite tags to five nesting loggerheads to track their movements and evaluate how water temperature affects movements and behavior. We are also continuing an intensive project investigating how red tide toxins affect health, fitness, and survival of hatchlings.”

A successful sea turtle or shorebird nesting season is reliant on many different aspects of monitoring and research, each with many moving parts. Planning, coordination, and lots of hard, intense work are all condensed into the nesting season.

Through SCCF’s passionate, tireless team of staff, seasonal employees, and incredible volunteers, all of this demanding work can be accomplished.

Thanks to our 2025 Coastal Wildlife Team

Staff

• Kelly Sloan, Director/Sea Turtle Program Coordinator
• Audrey Albrecht, Coastal Wildlife Manager/Shorebird Biologist
• Jack Brzoza, Sea Turtle Biologist
• Amanda Manrique, Sea Turtle Biologist
• Savannah Weber, Sea Turtle Biologist
• Samantha Hinsz, Shorebird Technician

2025 Techs & Interns

• Conner Morehead – Sea Turtle Technician
• Lizzy Hepworth – Sea Turtle Intern
• Will Kopecky – Sea Turtle Intern
• Taylor McKenna – Sea Turtle Intern
• Meghan Murphy – Sea Turtle Intern
• Ashlyn O’Kert – Sea Turtle Intern
• Liam Petri – Sea Turtle Intern
• Jeb Politte – Sea Turtle Intern
• Chelsea Total – Shorebird Intern 
• Nick Werling – Sea Turtle Intern