Tracking Radley
RADLEY’S TRACKING STATISTICS
Release Date: 7-24-2010
Transmitter Type: Wildlife Computers MK10-AFB
Data Collected: GPS Location and Water Temperature
Expected Lifespan of Tag: One year depending on battery life
Distance From Juno Beach: 1517 kilometers (942 miles)
Current Water Temperature: 20.2°C
Nearest City: Hamilton, Bermuda
Recent Coordinates: 31.411, -65.26
Click map to download PDF.
5/25/2011 – Radley’s Final Update
Species: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Stranding Date: April 6, 2010
Stranding Location: St. Lucie Power Plant, Florida
Initial Weight: 105.4 lbs.
Release Weight: 132 lbs.
Release Date: 7/24/2010
Injury: Scrape on the skull & other injuries
Radley is a loggerhead sea turtle that was found with a scrape on the right side of the skull and an old necrotic patch of skin on the neck. The turtle was slightly underweight and anemic and had a moderate amount of barnacles and algae on the carapace. Radley was treated with antibiotics, vitamins and nutritional therapy until the turtle was cleared for release on July 10, 2010. After 109 days in rehab at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Radley was released off the beach adjacent to the center.
Before release, a Wildlife Computers MK10-AF GPS tag was affixed to the turtleís carapace. This device records location via satellite triangulation of signals (termed Argos locations), GPS location, water temperature and light level (a less accurate but alternative way to measure location). Recent data are transmitted back to LMC via satellites as the turtle surfaces normally to breathe. This device allowed LMC researchers and visitors from around the world to track Radley as he ventured north from our local waters.
TRACKING AND TIMING OF EVENTS
Immediately following release, Radley remained close to the Florida coastline as he quickly moved north. By August 20th, he was passing the Florida/Georgia border embedded in the warm Florida current/Gulf Stream. Data were coming in regularly and both the turtle and the transmitter were performing perfectly. Radley continued north along the edge of the current and made its way to the waters off the Outer Banks of North Carolina in early October. He meandered up and down the coast for more than a month moving in and out of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream before heading northeast once again on November 25th. Radley followed the northern boundary of the of the Gulf Stream for more than 700 kilometers before heading north following the edge of a warm water eddy off the Gulf Stream. At the end of December, Radley moved rather quickly to the south towards Bermuda. Once arriving near Bermuda in early March, the turtle meandered northeast of the island before heading further south once again.
By mid-April, Radleyís tag had abruptly ceased transmitting. Analysis of data such as activity level, temperature, battery voltage, and resistance (wet/dry switch) reveal that Radley likely shed his transmitter after 259 days at sea.
Data collected from Radleyís tag reveals its behavior after successful rehabilitation and release was excellent. Although we are no longer able to track Radleyís movement in the ocean, the data collected over 259 days allows LMC biologists to further study the behaviors of sea turtles in their native habitat. If you would like to underwrite the cost of tagging a sea turtle in the future, contact Deborah Jaffe, Director of Development at 561.627.8280 extension 102.
Days in Rehabilitation at Loggerhead Marinelife Center: 109 days
Days Loggerhead Marinelife Center Studied Radley at Sea: 259 days
Estimated total distance traveled: 6,216 kilometers or 3,862 miles
Distance from Juno Beach at last transmission: 1517 kilometers or 942 miles
3/19/2011
Radley is heading toward the southwest after passing Bermuda. He appears to be following the edge of some very warm water to his east. His transmitter is performing well and we expect it to last for at least another month – hopefully longer!
3/2/2011
This past weekend, Radley passed just to the north of Bermuda. He was only a few miles north of the island within their territorial waters, making Radley our fist internationally tracked rehab patient!
2/22/2011
Radley is currently 989 miles away from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center about 75 miles northeast of Bermuda. The water temperature in the area where Radley is swimming is about 19° C (66° Fahrenheit)The transmitter is performing as programmed and the battery has enough power for another month or two. Do you think Radley will make it Bermuda?
1/30/2011
We all thought that Radley was heading to Bermuda, but stopped within 90 miles of the island and is now heading north again. Since leaving Juno Beach, Radley has travelled at least 4,800 kilometers (2,998 miles).
1/13/2011
Radley is now heading southwest along the southern edge of the Gulf Stream. Radley has been back at sea for 174 days and he appears to behaving like a normal loggerhead turtle! Check out the map and let us know where you think he is heading.
12/30/2010
After looping around an eddy of the Gulf Stream, Radley is heading toward the east once again. The transmitter attached to his carapace is performing well and there does not appear to be any issues. We hope to continue to track this turtle for a few more months!
12/12/2010
Radley is currently located at the northern boundary of the Gulf Stream current Southeast of Nantucket. He is swimming slowly back to the west along the very warm current. Radley was released on July 24th 2010 and has travelled at least 2,898 miles since then!
11/22/2010
Since Radley’s release back in July, he (or she…) has travelled at least 2,245 kilometers (1395 miles) and is located off the North Carolina coast. The turtle is swimming near the boundary of the very warm Gulf Stream and the temperature data relayed to us shows that he is moving in and out of the Stream likely foraging along the edge of the current. This morning Radley is swimming in the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. This Marine Protected Area was created to protect the site where the Civil War era USS Monitor sunk in 1862.
10/31/2010
Radley has turned around and is heading south off of the North Carolina coastline. He Is currently in the cooler waters just north of the gulf stream. Since leaving Juno Beach on 7/24/10, Radley has travelled more than 1,800 kilometers (1,142 miles).
10/13/2010
Radley is now in the cooler waters off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. His gear is performing well and is relaying very high quality data. He has travelled 1,512 since leaving the Juno Beach area in July.
10/4/2010
Since leaving the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Radley has travelled 833 miles and is now swimming in the waters off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. The water is about 150 meters deep in the area and the water is 27 degrees Celsius.
9/27/2010
Radley continues to hang around the waters near Bald Head Island, North Carolina.
9/20/2010
Radley seems to have settled into an area near the tip of Bald Head Island, North Carolina.
9/13/2010
Radely has stopped his travels north and has settled in the area near Cape Fear, North Carolina. As of this morning, he is about 4 miles offshore.
9/7/2010
Radley’s transmitter is performing well and it is allowing us to follow his travels to South Carolina. Since leaving Juno, Radley has travelled more than 600 miles!
8/29/2010
Radley is currently located south of Charleston, South Carolina.
8/23/2010
It has been a month since Radley was released and we are all excited to be following his trip to the north. Radley is currently in the waters of Georgia to the northeast of Jacksonville , Florida.
8/15/2010
Radley is located to the east of Daytona Beach where he has been for the past five days or so. His transmitter is functioning perfectly and we are receiving very high quality data.
8/8/2010
Radley has now travelled at least 193 miles since being released on 7/24/10 and is currently located northeast of Cape Canaveral.
8/3/2010
Radley has ventured north to Cape Canaveral and has spent the past 24 hours in the same general location. His transmitter is performing as programmed and we are receiving high quality GPS locations four times a day. Based on the temperature data being relayed to us, it seems as if Radley is foraging near the boundary of the Florida Current. Since leaving Juno Beach, Radley has travelled about 254 kilometers.
7/28/2010
After spending a day or two in the near shore waters of Juno/North Palm Beach, Radley has ventured north and is currently near the St. Lucie Inlet. Radley’s transmitter includes a GPS receiver which will give us the most precise location data available. GPS data are relayed to us every three days, so there will always be a delay on these locations. The points you see on the main map are positions that are calculated by the Argos system and are not as accurate as the GPS locations.
7/24/2010
Radley was released at around 12:30 pm on Saturday 7/24/10 along Juno Beach. Prior to release, a small GPS recording satellite transmitter was attached to Radley. This transmitter will relay location and water temperature data to researchers at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center every few days.