Every year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tracks green sea turtle migration. During nesting season, these turtles travel up to 1,200 miles to lay eggs. They often go to the French Frigate Shoals, an atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Nesting season is vital for these endangered creatures. It helps with their recovery and conservation, but only if they are safe to reproduce. NOAA biologists study these areas to track turtle populations.
How Scientists Track Turtles
To track turtles, scientists carefully etch letters and numbers into their shells. They use a tool similar to those used by nail technicians. This process has been used for decades.
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Start Your News DetoxAfter etching, they apply non-toxic paint to make the marks visible from far away. The etchings show where the turtle was found. NOAA explains that this process is painless, and many turtles even sleep through it.
The Honu Count Begins
In 2017, some people saw these markings and thought they were graffiti. They reported the etchings, which inspired NOAA to start the Honu Count. "Honu" is the Hawaiian word for green sea turtles.
The Honu Count asks locals to report any sightings of turtles with white alpha-numeric etchings on the right side of their shells. This helps biologists understand where turtles feed, migrate, live, and how well they are surviving.
Photo by sighting survey participant Catelyn Coats
To participate, people just need to find a turtle with etchings. They should keep a respectful distance, take a photo, record the date, time, and location, then upload the information to the Honu Count Sighting Survey.
Making a Real Difference
Since 2017, nearly 600 people have reported 688 sightings of 253 individual turtles. This crowdsourced data has made a big impact.
Brittany Clemans, a wildlife biologist, used this data in a new study. Her research helps define protected habitats for the turtles.
Photo by NOAA Fisheries/Camryn Allen
Clemans told Hawai’i Public Radio that the community's data helped determine important feeding sites. This showed where most honu were found. Her research makes it easier for NOAA to identify areas that need the most support for the turtles' survival.
This project also builds trust between scientists and the public. Clemans noted that it's important for the community to know they are positively impacting the data. This helps everyone understand the species better. She added that people should be excited and ask questions about these important creatures.
