Vanuatu STRP4

3/5/2023 Makala's tracks-- updates Below is the latest video of Makala's tracks as of 3-5-23.  She has made her way to out into the Coral Sea and appears to be headed for Australia's Great Barrier Reef. She has traveled approximately 1754 km from Moso Island, Vanuatu.   The video below represents Makala's tracks up through 2/13/2023.  She has left the shallow waters of the norther New Caledonian reefs and apprears to be headed out into the Coral Sea.  She spend a couple of weeks wandering around in the shallow waters resting and feeding before she set off into deeper waters. Above is an image  Makala's travels between 1/12/23 and 2/6/23 Makala appears to be in a resting mode in this relatively shallow reef area north of New Caledonia.

 1/15/2023- Sunday We had a restful night at our apartment (pasta dinner cooked in again) and hot showers and clean beds! Everyone is in good spirits and we had a slow relaxing morning.  Gocean's sister Maggy (Gocean is our landloard) drove us to Denerau Island where we visited the Denerau port and has our breakfast and lunch combination.  At the end of the meal Ms Jim asked everyone to share their high and low points during the trip and then the entire team expressed what they appreciated most about that person.  It was touching and fun! Afterwards, Gocean picked us up and drove us to the airport where we are now.   Below are some images from the morning:    Morning on the lanai of our apartment just before leaving for Denereau Our lunch/breakfast at the Cantina. We have our drinks. The harbor area at Denereau. Denereau harbor They thought they might be able to fit it in their carry-on. On our way to security and customs.

Each of the four student participants will contribute a short post:  Our four intrepid HPA student team members. Animal Friends of Tranquility Resort by Annika Everett While most of our time on Moso Island was spent exploring the beautiful and diverse house reef and beyond, some of our fondest memories were made with the terrestrial animals of Tranquility. When we first arrived at Moso Island we were welcomed by 4 dogs that live at the resort - Boots, Socks, Spots, and puppy Zula! While we actually met these doggies at different times, within a few days they became our best friends. They followed us to and from our fares, joined us on beach adventures and eventually became our guardians staying with us at night! Spots was my and Mrs. Jim’s favorite as she visited our fare often, greeted us home after our night long field work, sleeping aside us! Along with the dogs, we shared the island with tons of hermit crabs to the point where the first day of being there I ...

 1/14/2023 - Saturday We got up early this morning, finished packing and brought all of our equipment/luggage to the loading area at the dock.  Then we went to breakfast and enjoyed everyones company one more time.  We boarded the boat for Efate at 0900 h and made our way to the mainland of Efate, loaded the van and we driven to the downtown office of TR where we stored out luggage while we walked around Port Vila.  Below are some pictures of our travels that included the main market and a stop at Jill's for some much needed/desired cold drinks (milkshakes, cold coke and ice tea--- in fact there were two rounds of drinks). Below are some pictures of the day:

 1/13-14/2023 Yesterday, the team made a dive in the afternoon after we got back from our night on the beach and the tagging and release of Makala.  The dive was outside the lagoon to a site known as Owen's Reef.  They had a wonderful time.  After cleaning up and beginning packing for our departure, we all met for dinner and presented the dive instructors Finn and Maria, Thomas (he helped us immensely in many ways from our meals at the resort to our take out meals on the beach, to arranging special boat rides to check the surf), the Chef who cooked us wonderful meals three times a day- the girls did a nice job of making the presentaions. Afterwards the girls scrabble for a while and then we all turned in for the night as we had to depart the island at 0845 h in the morning. Pictures from the dive on Owen's reef.

We had a successful night last night.  We were able to capture a beautiful post-nesting hawksbill turtle and attach a satellite tag to her.  She was first observed at 2010 and captured as she made her way back to the beach at 2025.  Below is a picture of the capture team.   After a few hours sleep, I would like bring you up to date on last night's activities.  We traveled from TR to the base camp around 1730 hours, set up camp and prepared dinner.  After dinner we rested for a couple of hours before we made our first beach survey.  Two teams headed out, one to the east (long beach) and one to the west beach area.  As soon as we came out onto the beginning of the longest stretch of west beach, Annika and Alden came across a track!  We stood and listened for a few minutes and could hear the thrown sand (mama turtle covering her nest) and knew she might be close to finishing her nesting (nest location: Latitude: 17° 31’ 19.752” S, Longitude: 168...