We are fortunate on Little St. Simons to have the opportunity to work in cooperation with state and other agencies on biology projects with certain animals. Sometimes in research projects, satellite transmitters are used to track animal movement and migration. In the past few months several individual birds called Marbled Godwits were captured on Little St. Simons Island and fitted with transmitters as part of a bigger project. Also, a sea turtle that was rescued off of our island was released and she was given a transmitter.
How can you find out where the animals that received transmitters have went? We would like to introduce you to a great resource on the internet, a site where you can do just that. There are tons of species from all around the world that you can track as well. The website is www.seaturtle.org.
Once you reach the website, there are several buttons across the top of the screen. Click on “Tracking.” The first time you use the site, you have to accept the terms of use. Click “I accept” and submit. From there, you will see a column on the left hand site that has all the projects with animals listed. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is currently located near the top of the list. When you see an animal you want to follow, just click on it! From there you will get information about the animal and its movements.
For our turtle, click on “Simone.” She was rescued off our island in July 2008. The Marbled Godwits, on the other hand, don’t have names assigned to them. You can scroll down until you see godwits listed. The birds banded and given transmitters on our island are known by their numbers. They are 80797, 84201, 84202, 84203, 84204, and 84205.
Keep up with “our” animals and many others by exploring the www.seaturtle.org site, but make sure you leave yourself lots of time, because it is addictive!
