| JBHP Annual Reports |
| Research Jumby Bay, or Long Island, is a 300 acre private island located off Antigua’s northeastern coast. The island’s isolation from the mainland has created a haven for nesting hawksbills – and an excellent opportunity to study them. From June 1 to November 16 each year, researchers collect data on hawksbill nesting ecology, patrolling the beach each hour for about nine hours a night, concurrent with the nocturnal schedule of the nesting turtles. Since hawksbills typically take an hour and a half to nest, hourly patrols yield encounters with nearly 100% of the nesting population. |
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| When encountered, each turtle is tagged (or identified by existing tags), and information about the turtle’s size, condition, and nesting habitat is gathered. Turtle teams collect data during egg-laying (i.e., when the turtles are in the “nesting trance”) to minimize disturbance. These consistent, replicate surveys allow us to make precise comparisons between years to assess the status of the population and long-term trends. |
| Recent analyses have shown a statistically significant upturn in the Jumby Bay population. (See Figure 1.) This is great news for this endangered species. Check back soon for on-going and future research projects including variation in the peak of the nesting season, habitat restoration, environmental determinants of hatch success, nest site selection, and genetic analyses. |
| Figure 1. Hawksbill Nesting Population Trends at Jumby Bay, Antigua. |