Onsite training by the Ningaloo Turtle Program

On Monday, 19 November 2012, Colin Valentine, an experienced turtle tracker and trainer (8 years!) with the Ningaloo Turtle Program in Exmouth arrived on-site to provide supplementary training to the scientific GTCP Field Research Team in the tracking of loggerhead nesting activities in the Gnaraloo Bay Rookery. Colin also trained Gina Clery who is providing field assistance to us until the first of our new GTCP team members, Justine Arnold, arrives at Gnaraloo on 27 November 2012.

Colin remained at Gnaraloo until Friday, 23 November 2012. Due to Colin’s visit, we have had the unique opportunity to be trained in both Exmouth in green turtle tracking and on-site at Gnaraloo in loggerhead tracking in one of the rookeries monitored by the GTCP.

Colin, thanks for your assistance during the Day Surveys in the Gnaraloo Bay Rookery, the invaluable advice and extra field training and the amazing anecdotes over dinner!

Gnaraloo Bay Rookery wise, the female turtles are starting to arrive more frequently on the beach now which is exciting! After almost a month of monitoring (02/11/2012 – 23/11/2012), we now have 17 Nests, 2 Unsuccessful Nesting Attempts and 8 U Tracks!

Cheers, Careena and Gina