Suzy Fox mounts her all-terrain vehicle at dawn and drives along the water on Anna Maria Island, looking for evidence of sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.

It’s nesting season on coasts throughout Florida, and Fox is head of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization.

The group offers early-morning tours for people interested in catching a glimpse of a clutch of endangered sea turtle eggs.

"It's a once in a lifetime for a lot of these people," Fox said. "People travel a long way to come see how a sea turtle nests, experience seeing the eggs."

Fox and a small army of volunteers work to protect nests, which are at risk for a number of reasons, including loss of habitat.

At first light, volunteers walk the seven miles of beach, mark potential turtle tracks and the probable locations of their nests. The nests are checked and documented, staked and cordoned off for safety.

The incubation period for these eggs is about two months.

Some nests need extra attention. Those turtles get confused and dig their nests too close to the incoming tide.

Those nests have to be moved for the baby turtles to have a fighting chance. It’s a painstaking process, as clutches of eggs number more than 100.

Fox said beach renourishment projects can change the layout and sand density of the shoreline, and lights from homes and businesses along the beaches compete with the moon. Both of these can confuse the turtles and make it more difficult for them to nest.

Fox offers property owners turtle-friendly lights and suggests people turn off their other lights to give the turtles a better chance at digging successful nests.

Another impediment to nesting season is beach furniture left out overnight. Turtles are very awkward on land, compared to their sea habitat, and will get caught in beach chairs, unable to free themselves.

Fox hopes that seeing these nests and learning about the challenges facing sea turtles will change people’s perspectives on these delicate creatures.

"I think it's what makes all the difference is the people learning to love their beach and love the environment," said Fox.