Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 02:23:53 -0400
WADADLI1S STATUSÐ3 NOV 2002, 23:00 PM AST
This is the third progress report after Wadadli the hooded seal1s release 3
weeks ago. We (Keith Matassa [MARC-UNE], Greg Early, J. Michael Williamson
[WhaleNet] and myself) will provide updates on its movement from
radiotelemetry data and its status weekly.
Background
* SpeciesÐHooded seal (Cystophora cristata)
* Field numberÐNEPST628
* Date of strandingÐ12 August 2001
* Locality of strandingÐRunaway Beach, St. John1s, Antigua, Antiguaand
Barbuda (17°061N, 61°501W)
* Date of transport to Puerto Rico1s CMML-UMETÐ13 August 2001
* Gender and relative age: Male, blue-back (est. 5 months old)
* Length, girth, and weight upon arrival at CMML-UMETÐ108 cm (3.5ft), 28 kg
(61 lb)
* Date of transfer to Maine1s MARC-UNEÐ29 March 2002
* Length and weight upon arrival at MARC-UNEÐ121 cm (3.9 ft), 87 kg(192 lb)
Release
* Date of releaseÐ17 October 2002
* Length and weight upon releaseÐ150 cm (4.9 ft), 105 kg (231 lb)
* Relative ageÐHopper (est. 1 year and 7 months old)
* Flipper tagÐHind flipper tag with maroon (reddish) colored tag with 322
* Satellite transmitterÐA SPOT2 (smart position and temperature tag)
wildlife computers satellite tag (single C-cell battery, 86x47x36 mm,
185grams) was placed by Greg Early just behind the seal1s neck at 8:45
AM.ARGOS satellites (ARGOS System in Largo, MD and Talouse, France)
receiving transmission from tag 01656 without problems.
* Locality of releaseÐGranite Point Cove, Biddeford, York, Maine(43°24.431N,
70°23.171W)
* Time of transport to release siteÐ11:00 AM
* Time of releaseÐ11:30 AM
* BehaviorÐThe seal hopped to the beach from its crate without difficulties
until it reached the wash line of the shore. At that time, it stopped and
needed a little prodding to enter the water. It played on the surf and with
floating sargassum for some minutes. It ventured farther from the shore,
slowly, exploring different part of the cove. After 40minutes, the release
crew left while the seal continued to explore the cove some 200 feet from
shore.
Status
* Tracking information available via WhaleNet
(http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/StopWadadli/).
* 17 OCT 2002 11:30AM ESTÐReleased at Granite Point Cove, Biddeford, York,
Maine (43°24.431N, 70°23.171W). It appears that Wadadli spent muchof the
first day in the cove near his release point.
* 18 OCT 2002Ð34 km NNE of Point Granite Point, York, Maine. The taghas
cycled and managed to start and stop as it is supposed to. Wadadli appears
to be moving towards the northeast and east. Given the few locations
received from ARGOS, it may be that Wadadli is swimming quickly and not
coming to the surface as often, thus the tag is not getting to signal as
much.
* 19 OCT 2002ÐSome 32 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 20 OCT 2002ÐSome 62 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 21 OCT 2002ÐSome 57 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine. We are still
getting a lot of single signal messages (no locations). This seems to be
common at the beginning of tracks, so we are hoping that we will get more
locations as time goes on. So far we are getting several locations per day.
They are still not very reliable ad scattered about, but it appears that
Wadadli is still heading east slowly. His latest location is roughly 57 km
east of his release point. This would seem to indicate that he is not
heading in a straight line (as we would get a straight track and he could be
moving about fifty miles per day). As we are not getting a lot of signals at
the surface, it also seems that he is spending a lot of time below the
surface (at least the tag is below the surface). Because of the way the tag
is attached, this can also mean that he is spending a lot of time with his
head up (looking around) rather than swimming. We think the latter is the
most likely case. We will (hopefully) see more soon.
* 22 OCT 2002ÐSome 58 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 23 OCT 2002ÐSome 69 km ENE of Granite Point, York, Maine. Things appear to
be pretty much the same with Wadadli still moving slowly east and maybe
slightly north. His latest position has him about 69 km offshore, ENE of his
release point. He still appears to be moving quite slowly and it appears
that he is spending much of his time with the tag below water. This could
mean he is spending a lot of time diving, or sitting around with his head up
and out of the water. Although he is about 25 miles from the nearest
coastline, he could still easily reach shore in less than a half a day if he
headed in that direction, so we will keep a close eye on him.
* 24 OCT 2002ÐSome 60 km ENE of Granite Point, York, Maine. It is difficult
from this set of locations to be sure, but it appears that Wadadli is
roughly in the same general location, perhaps moving north and west. If this
is true, he is getting closer to shore. Unfortunately the accuracy of all of
the locations today is questionable, so we will probably have to wait to see
if this is really what is going on. In any event, it does not appear that
Wadadli has made a move to leave the area.
* 25 OCT 2002ÐSome 82 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 26 OCT 2002ÐSome 86 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 27 OCT 2002ÐSome 91 km ENE of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 28 OCT 2002ÐSome 105 km ENE of Granite Point, York, Maine. It looked for a
while (24 Oct 2002) that he might have been heading in closer to shore. We
now think that if he did (at all) it was only for a short time and we have
no locations closer than about five miles offshore. His latest positions are
still quite scattered. It is possible that these are so far apart because he
is moving in a very erratic way. He may also be moving quite slowly and
keeping his head up quite a bit. Either way he is proving a real challenge
to find and follow. He appears to be continuing to move generally slowly
northeast, and is approaching Mt Desert Island. He still is only moving east
at about 5-10miles per day.
* 29 OCT 2002ÐSome 161 km ENE of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 30 OCT 2002ÐSome 136 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 31 OCT 2002ÐSome 104 km ENE of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 1 NOV 2002ÐSome 117 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 2 NOV 2002ÐSome 208 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine.
* 3 NOV 2002ÐSome 219 km E of Granite Point, York, Maine. It appears that
after a week or so of either slow (or erratic) swimming fairly near the
coast, Wadadli has made a noticeable move to the east and slightly north.
This has been most noticeable in the last day or so. He continues to be
difficult to track due to the poor confidence in the positions we are
getting, but it seems clear that he is moving in a more direct line than
before. His most recent position is probably about in the middle of the
mouth of the Bay of Fundy, mid way between Maine and Nova Scotia. This would
put him about 60 miles form the nearest land. He is also over the deepest
water yet (about 250 m deep). It will be interesting to see if this trend
continues and he continues east and around Nova Scotia or heads north into
the Bay of Fundy.
We will update this information next Monday or earlier if there is important
information to share with the group.
Sincerely,
Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni
Director
Caribbean Marine Mammal Laboratory
Department of Science and Technology, Universidad Metropolitana
PO Box 361715 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-1715
TEL 787-766-1717 x6600 € FAX 787-751-5840 € EMERG 787-399-8432
EMAIL mignucci@caribe.net € WEB http://rcv.caribe.net
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J. Michael Williamson
Principal Investigator-WhaleNet <http://whale.wheelock.edu>
Associate Professor-Science
Wheelock College, 200 The Riverway, Boston, MA 02215
voice: 617.879.2256
fax: 617.734.8666, or 978.468.0073
"Mother, Mother Ocean, I have heard your call,
Wanted to sail upon your waters,
since I was three feet tall"
Jimmy Buffett
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