Loggerhead Turtle Inspiration

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Baby turtles marching across my workbench on their way to becoming necklaces.

I'm working on a new design in honor of turtle season on the beach.  Here in Florida, the sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs beginning in May and about two months later there are up to ninety baby turtles bubbling up from the nests in the sand to make their way to the water.

Rescued baby loggerhead turtle in a green buckets with his fellows.

Sometimes things go wrong as they did for these four fellows (or females).  They were left behind in the nest after a raccoon got the others, but were rescued by the sea turtle folks from the local aquarium.  They'll have a rest and a meal or two and be released very soon to the water.

I've been working on a design or two that captures the baby turtles epic run to the sea.  They face many hazards including herons, gulls, crows and raccoons on the sand and various fish once they hit the water.  They can also be distracted by lights from buildings that mimic the sheen of the moonlight on the water and send them running in the wrong direction.