Mr. Schonfeld has been a resident of South Palm Beach for 16 years, and during that time has been conducting extensive Sea Turtle monitoring on the beaches of Palm Beach County. Mr. Schonfeld was given the name "Turtle Man" because of his dedication and designation as the South Palm Beach Turtle Monitor and primary Permit Holder from the State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Some of the things he is responsible for are:
Ensuring proper lighting in condominiums
Relocating turtle nests from in front of stairways or putting police yellow tape around stakes providing diverted walkways from stairs , around the existing nests, to the beach.
Stake nests to allow for beach cleaning.
Allowing work to continue on seawalls during turtle season by monitoring the nest sites everyday.
Mr. Schonfeld has been involved in a number of research projects for Palm Beach County and the State of Florida, as well as, numerous educational activities throughout the year such as:
August hatchling rescues.
Turtle education talks at schools and non-profit groups.
Guided educational beach walking.
Background Information:
Mr. Schonfeld, along with his wife Carol, walk the beach everyday at dawn during turtle season to count the number of nests and false crawls for each species. A false crawl is when the turtle decides not to make a nest, and returns to the sea.
The arrival of each species to nest overlaps among Leatherback turtles first, then Loggerhead turtles then Green turtles. When a nest is found, a stake with a DO NOT DISTURB sign is placed in front of the nest so that the beach cleaner can bring his tractor on the beach, without disturbing it. When the beach cleaner rakes, he must rake only in front of nests.
Mr. Schonfeld makes accurate records of the nestings in South Palm Beach (5/8 mile) and makes an annual report to the State of Florida. This report to the State is part of the United States Endangered Species Act which was passed in 1972 and covers both plants and animals. The report is to show progress or decline for species from year to year. The Loggerhead is on the treatened species list, the Leatherbacks and Greens are on the endangered species list and ALL sea turtles are protected.
He also makes sure that condominium flood lights or globes are out, or that lights will be deflected away from the ocean; the reason being, turtles will not nest where lights are behind the dune, because they know, hatchlings instinctively head toward the light, which should be moonlight on the ocean, not faux light from the condominums.
Mr. Schonfeld has done research for the State of Florida on sea turtle behavior and activities. His research territory is the Town of South Palm Beach.
There are 3 types of turtles:
There are only 7 species of Sea Turtle and 3 come to Palm Beach County to nest. These are the Loggerhead, the Leatherback, and the Green.
Anyone wanting to walk with Mr. Schonfeld, or bring children to August hatchling digs, please call him at 561-547-1088.
