An update on Everett and Peter

Editor’s Note: This year, the STPS Board of Directors has funded two satellite transmitters for Dean Bagley, a researcher with the University of Central Florida’s Marine Turtle Research Group. STPS has supported Bagley’s work researching male green sea turtles for several years. This year, the board has named the two male green sea turtles being tracked with the satellite transmitters. The first is named Everett, in honor of longtime STPS volunteer Everett Tindall who turned 91 in June. The second turtle has been named Peter, in honor of STPS founder Peter Bandre and the 35^th anniversary of the organization in 2021. Dean Bagley will provide periodic updates to STPS as she tracks the turtles this summer.

By DEAN BAGLEY

UCF Marine Turtle Research Group researcher

It’s that time again, and there is some news from our two males.

As of last week, Everett was beginning to move a little to the east, and it was hard to tell if he was just foraging around or if he was thinking about making a move. Well, we don’t have to wonder any longer. He continued his movement east. Most of you have heard me mention the Inwater Research Group, and how we work west of the Marquesas in what is still the only known adult green turtle foraging ground in the country. You may have even heard me mention that most of the turtles are found about 6 kilometers west of the Marquesas themselves. The last hit from this turtle was 5.4 km west of the Marquesas, right in our study area. The last location from Everett was at 10 p.m. on July 28 in the center of the red cluster of hits.

We also no longer have to wonder about Peter. Last week I wasn’t sure if he was actually slowing down because he was nearing home or because he was tiring from his journey. It seems that he was nearing home, which is not far north of Key Largo. The map is an active map, and doesn’t show locations until you are zoomed in enough. If I zoomed in far enough for “Key Largo” to show up on the map you wouldn’t be able to see the beginning of his journey back in Melbourne Beach. He is just about 13 km northeast of the city of Key Largo, off Radabob Key. The last location we got from Peter was at 7:45 p.m. on July 28. At that time, he was on the east side of the red cluster.

Stay tuned to see whether they’re happy where they are of whether they may move elsewhere.