Sea turtles are marine reptiles that have existed since their giant land turtle ancestors returned to the sea sometime during the age of dinosaurs.  Seven species of sea turtles have managed to survive to modern times.  Four of these species, the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), the Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea),and the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nest on the beaches of Broward County from March through September every year.  The Loggerhead is most common sea turtle using the area for nesting; as a matter of fact, Florida, from the Space Coast to the Gold Coast, is the second most important nesting area in the world for loggerhead sea turtles.

Sea turtles mainly nest at night.  Leatherbacks typically nest from early March through mid-June, but this species accounts for less than 1% of the nests in Broward County.  Loggerheads are the county's most common nester and tend to nest from April through early September, with peak nesting in June and July. Greens nest from late May through early September, with alternating extreme high (even years) and low (odd years) nesting seasons.

Green sea turtle nesting
(Chelonia mydas)