Palm Beach County = nesting density

1. Turtles, Tattoos, Totes and TelescopesPalm Beach County’s Sea Turtle Education and Dark Sky Awareness Campaign

2. Palm Beach County = nesting density • PBC -~26% of FL nesting (19,500) • 30% of leatherback (500) • 25% of green (3,700) • 21% of loggerhead (15,300) • Central and SE Florida- 90% of sea turtle nesting in the US Loggerhead Leatherback

3. Palm Beach County • 1.3 Million people (1 hatchling/person/year) • Transient coastal population • Tourism critical component of economy • Constantly educating people • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message

4. Welcome to our world

5. Probable Cause of Disorientation Palm Beach County 2011 62% No Specific Lights

6. Sky Glow Palm Beach (Southeast) Port WPB (South) West • Looking West from Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida • Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance controls lighting 600 feet west of the mean high water line but development extends 10-15 miles inland • Need to educate inland residents • Advocate for darker skies

7. “Of all the pollution we face, light pollution is perhaps the most easily remedied. Simple changes in lighting design and installation yield immediate changes in the amount of light spilled into the atmosphere and, often, immediate energy savings.” - National Geographic article Our Vanishing Night byVerlyn Klinkenborg

8. “It is estimated that only around 10 percent of the population of the United States is able to see the night sky in its natural, unpolluted state.” – National Park Service

9. What to Do About It? • Join with astronomy and bird conservation communities • Educate about loss of night sky • Point out wildlife and human impacts • Economics • Green initiatives • Provide alternatives • Regulate

10. 50 Beach Access Signs $2,650 24,000 Tattoos $2,520 2,000 Stickers $2,040 1,000 Totes $2,250 15 Bus Wraps “Moving billboard” $1,950 27,000+ msgs $11,000 Trying to reach 1.3 M people

11. Brochures Distributed: 19,500 Post Cards Sent to Coastal Properties Annually: 750

12. Other formats: • Web • Flickr • YouTube • Radio shows • Newspaper articles • TV news • TV PSA ads • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message • Repeat Message

13. Next: • Expand the campaign; broader audience; grow advocates • Astronomy and Birding Community • Dark Sky Festival • “The City Dark” Movie Screening (Feb 22, Eckerd College) • Exhibits- Lighting Design Firms, Env Groups, • International Dark Sky Association, Panel Discussion, Star Party • Dark Sky land development ordinances (unincorp PBC, Boca Raton)

14. Be a part of Earth Hour March 31, 2012 Turn off lights for 1 hour at 8:30pm. Check out those stars! Spread the word in your community.

15. Additional Resources www.earthhour.com www.thecitydark.com www.nature.nps.gov/air/lightscapes/ www.darksky.org/ www.need-less.org.uk/

16. THANK YOU! Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management www.pbcgov.org/erm 561-233-2400