Of the eight species of sea turtles worldwide, the three that nest on Greater Fort Lauderdale's golden sands from March through October include: the threatened Loggerhead sea turtle, which formed 1,809 nests in 2009, the endangered Green sea turtles, which had 71 nests in 2009, followed by the Leatherback turtles, which had 45 nests in 2009. After 45-55 days of incubation, more than 1,900 nests hatched in Broward County resulting in more than 150,000 hatchlings making their way to the ocean last year.

Since Florida is one of the most important nesting areas in the world for Loggerhead sea turtles, Greater Fort Lauderdale is doing its part to help protect and create a nurturing environment for the turtles with the dimming of lights along the beachfront, conservation programs, and hatchling relocation efforts to help ensure survival rates are high. About one in 1,000 hatchlings will survive to produce offspring.

"Although many may feel the urge to observe this natural phenomenon up close, we encourage visitors to watch from a distance and participate in guided nighttime tours and designated Turtle Walks, in order not to disturb the turtles and their sensitive nesting cycle," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Efforts continue for preservation and awareness of sea turtles with a variety of programs and events, following is a sampling:

Moonlight, Sea Turtles and You! at the Museum of Discovery & Science: The whole family can participate in an evening of discovery while uncovering the natural history and myths of sea turtles at the Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale. During the months of June and July, the museum will hold their Moonlight, Sea Turtles and You! program, giving participants a chance to watch a 400-pound Loggerhead sea turtle venture out of the ocean to lay her eggs, nature permitting. Guests will also meet "Dulce," the museum's resident female Loggerhead sea turtle. The program starts at the Museum of Discovery & Science at 9pm and ends at approximately 1am. Participation is $19 for non-members and advance reservations are required. Additional information and reservations are available at 954-713-0930, or by visiting www.mods.org.

Sea Turtle Awareness at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach : Visitors can join a park ranger on a search for sea turtles at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach during their Sea Turtle Awareness program. Taking place every Wednesday and Friday evening at 9pm during the months of June and July, the group will meet for an educational experience around the campfire at the Seagrape pavilion and learn about the existence of sea turtles in the past, present and future. Park rangers will then lead turtle walks in search of nesting Loggerhead sea turtles. Walks last between one and three hours, and are included in the price of park admission: $3 for a single car occupant and $5 for two to eight people. Advance reservations are required. For more information call 954-923-2833 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/LloydBeach/Events.cfm.

Sea Turtles and Their Babies at Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood: The Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood offers the Sea Turtles and Their Babies summer program from 8-9:30pm, Wednesdays and Fridays from July 7 through August 27, 2010. Following an hour-long slide presentation and lecture, participants can accompany a naturalist on a hatchling release to see what these tiny creatures face during their first crucial minutes of life. Participants will also learn to identify the species of sea turtles found in South Florida, their habitat, breeding and nesting, identification of crawls and nests, conservation efforts, past exploitation, and current management problems now facing sea turtles. Participation is $5 per person with pre-registration, as space is limited. For more information or reservations, call 954-926-2480.

For information on the Sea Turtle walks and hatchling release programs, as well as how to protect these sea creatures, visit www.sunny.org/seaturtles. To learn more about nocturnal adventures and natural wonders throughout the Greater Fort Lauderdale, visit www.sunny.org/nature.