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Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Satellite Tracking for week of Dec 28
Bonaire Talk: Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: STCB (Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire): Satellite Tracking for week of Dec 28
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #61) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 8:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I forgot to start a new thread and originally posted this with last week's trackings.

Here's the update for Sunday, Dec 28.

-----------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

Our hawksbill 'Schillie' has slowed down considerably in the last 24 hours, as she made a course adjustment turning towards the northeast. At some 100 km from the coast of the Dominican Republic, 'Schillie' is still in deep waters and now appears to be moving towards Isla Saona, part of the Parque Nacional del Este, adjacent to the Mona Passage.

I will keep you posted,

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
schillie28-dec-03rdcloseup2

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2999) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 8:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We're watching! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Loo Hoo (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9978) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 9:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

On pins and needles Carol! Everytime she "slows" or makes a turn my stomach turns!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #62) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 8:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

update for Dec 30.
----------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

Surprisingly, 'Schillie' just did a "U"-turn, swimming south-southeast for some distance and now further away from the coast of the Dominican Republic. Migrating turtles sometimes do this as a way of finding their direction. All predictions about her possible destination are off, we will have to wait and see where she goes next.

'Nautila' continues on the "Navidad Bank", her feeding ground 100 km north of the Dominican Republic.

I will keep you posted,

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
schillie30-dec-03

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3805) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 9:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

These turtles are incredible!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Loo Hoo (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9988) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 2:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Maybe she changed her mind and is heading back to Klein Bonaire (just kidding). Well hopefully she will get her bearings soon and begin to head where she is going.

Andy, can they tell how deep she is in the water? YOu mentioned that this area is very deep, I wonder what depth they swim at when they are out in blue water.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed Brylczyk (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 5:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Reading these threads about the turtles is amazing. My wife and I were lucky enough to see 3 of them while snorkeling No Name 2 years ago. Watched them for about a half hour, couldn't be anymore beautiful. Looking at this map of their travels I can't help but think of the scene from Nemo when the turtles were "surfing" the currents.....too funny!!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #63) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 1:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Regarding the question of how deep Schillie is: no, you cannot tell how deep the turtle is via the transmitted signal -- the transmitter only sends at the surface. Adult Hawksbills can dive to depths of 200 meters.

update for Dec 30. Happy New Year to all.

-----------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

'Schillie' swam about 50 km towards the east yesterday, perhaps to get a better aim at reaching the Mona Passage or Puerto Rico. After this course correction, we expect her to continue to swim towards the north, much like 'Nautila' did last month. I will keep you posted.

With best wishes for 2004,

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
schillie30-dec-03rdcloseup

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10001) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 4:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Andy, truly amazing!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3002) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 6:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

200 meters! Wow!! This is so impressive. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #64) on Thursday, January 1, 2004 - 10:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

update for Dec 31.

----------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

Moving into 2004, 'Schillie' is on track towards Isla Mona in the Mona Passage. Mona is a protected Natural Reserve and one of the world's most important hawksbill breeding habitats.

Bon aņa nobo!

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
schillie31-dec-03

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1219) on Thursday, January 1, 2004 - 12:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I noticed in Bonaire reporter that Nautila's little turtlets all made it to the water safely.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #65) on Friday, January 2, 2004 - 8:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

update for Jan 01
-----------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

It continues to look like our hawksbill 'Schillie' is heading directly for Isla Mona, or at least aiming for the Mona Passage. She swam about 50 km yesterday and could reach Mona by today. This island, and its smaller satellite island Monito, has abundant hawksbill food (sponges) and a good number of resident turtles. We will see whether she stops there or continues onward.

I will keep you posted,

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
schillie1-jan-04

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #512) on Friday, January 2, 2004 - 11:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Looks like Schillie is a better navigator than Nautila and hopefully will continue on a safer passage.

Here is to 2004 - Happy New Year

Thanks Andrew.

Brian

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10017) on Friday, January 2, 2004 - 12:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Andy, again, truly amazing:-)

Question, is Navidad Bank similar to Isla Mona (in regard to turtle food, breeding, etc.)?

Brian, you're right, she seems to be a better navigator than Nautila...although she was originally heading the same way and then stopped and "regrouped." Still amazing to me how they can travel so far and end up where they want to without a compass, chart, boat, dividers, radar, gps...boy aren't humans dumb!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3013) on Friday, January 2, 2004 - 6:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde, you are right! Mother Nature and her critters have it "all over us humans"....by a long shot! Isn't it simply amazing to watch this all unfold right before our eyes? Can you imagine being PAID to watch and experience and be directly involved with this type of work/experiment??? I'm ready!!! LOL. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #66) on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 4:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

While I have no first-hand knowledge of either the Navidad Banks and Mona Island, I would assume that both have sponges. Sponges are the preferred food of Hawksbills.

update for Jan 2.
------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

'Schillie' is now just off the west coast of Mona and Monito Islands, in the Mona Passage. We will see tomorrow if she stays in this most excellent home for hawksbills or decides to continue on towards the north.

I will keep you posted,

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
SchillieatMona2-JAN-04

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3023) on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 4:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

OK....I'm ready to settle in right THERE, Andrew!! LOL. It's absolutely gorgeous there. I can imagine how a turtle would love nesting there, too. Gorgeous! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3899) on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 4:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wow!:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #984) on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 5:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

These turtle tracking posts are wonderful. Keep them coming...

Just wondering: Are we talking to Robert van Dam or Andrew Uhr or both? Either way, we appreciate the updates and the concrete proof of the amazing travels of the turtles.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #67) on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 9:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Robert is the Project Director for STCB and sends me, as well as many others, almost daily emails containing the tracking info. I have been posting them here.

Here's the update for Jan 3.

Andy
----------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

Our hawksbill 'Schillie' has reached Monito, a small limestone island which lies about 6 km north of Mona Island. This is a first class hawksbill feeding area, with very abundant high quality food (mostly their favorite sponge, Geodia neptuni), and the island probably has the highest density of hawksbill turtles anywhere in the world. This will be the first opportunity for 'Schillie' to feed after leaving Bonaire. My colleague Carlos Diez and I have been studying and protecting turtles at Mona and Monito for over 15 years, so if 'Schillie' stays in the area we may be able to find her in the water when we return to Mona next summer.

I will keep you posted,

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
Schillie3-JAN-04

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3028) on Sunday, January 4, 2004 - 9:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Schillie has great taste in choosing a home! Bonaire and Monito....very nice, indeed. Sounds like she will have a lot of wonderful "turtle" company where she is right now. She has earned a terrific meal, too! Thanks again, Andy. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (BonaireTalker - Post #68) on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 9:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

update for Jan 4.
-----------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

Although we received only one usable location for 'Schillie' today, it indicates she remains near Mona and Monito Islands. 'Schillie' is probably taking advantage of the abundant food (sponges) growing on the seafloor in the area, which means she is spending lots of time underwater so that we can receive only a few signals from her transmitter. Fortunately, the waters around Mona are now relatively safe for turtles.

I will keep you posted,

Robert P van Dam

Project Director
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

phone (599) 717 2225
cellular (599) 790 0433
email stcb@bonaireturtles.org
website www.bonaireturtles.org

P.O. Box 492
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

"Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, local affiliate of the Wider Caribbean Sea
Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), has been protecting sea turtles
through research, conservation and education since 1991."
Schillie4-JAN-04Monacloseup

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #513) on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 5:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Andrew

Thank you, it is good to hear that Schillie and Nautila are safe.

Regards

Brian

 


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