Saturday, May 20, 2006

Manatee Rescue of 5/18/06























Friday, June 10, 2005



WORD OF CAUTION: We post the above map since that is what was used throughout our monitoring period. As one can see, it appears as though Notch is on the beach (perhaps getting good seats for the Air and Sea Show!), however, the above map and dots are not to scale, therefore, it should only be used to demonstrate an overall trend in position, and not an actual position. The nautical chart posted below, while difficult to read for some, provides a true position at the time of data collection.

Here is the final tracking map and National Weather Service information showing where the Gulf Stream was located throughout the week. Notch and Naia are definitely still staying out far enough to be found in the Gulf Stream.

GULF STREAM HAZARDS...SEAS UP TO 8 FEET TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.


THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE WEST WALL OF THE GULF STREAM AS OF
JUN 10, 2005 AT 1200 UTC...

2 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF FOWEY ROCKS.
8 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF PORT EVERGLADES.
6 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF LAKE WORTH.

THIS DATA COURTESY OF THE NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE.

Well folks it appears to be official! The tag has either fallen off or the battery has run out. There is quiet a bit of data that we will be studying for the next couple of months and archiving for future stranding organizations regarding the track we monitored. At last data points gathered late Monday, Notch was making his way out of the Keys and heading north with data points catching him between Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale. Even though Tropical Arlene is on the other coast, we are all feeling the effects and it is good to see that he made his way out from here. Last recorded depths of the area he was in was around 300-400 feet and his position kept him on the edge of the shelf, as his pattern has been for the past few weeks. This will be the last posting for their track and more information learned from the complete data gathered will be shared in future MARS meetings. Thanks again who helped get Notch and Naia back home!

Friday, June 03, 2005


Main Tracking Map

Notch continues to be tracked in the same area. Over the course of the past 6 days, he has been limited to an area that encompasses about 8 square miles. His location continues to vary in terms of distance offshore going as far as 12-15 miles at times. This area puts him in about 450-600 feet of water. I am posting 2 pictures for us to see prior to the weekend. Our traditional tracking map and then a more nautically oriented map showing points over the past couple of days. I am also enclosing NOAA's track of the Gulf Stream, that has been looked at every day to ensure that Notch continues to stay in the Gulf Stream for food.


COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
245 PM EDT FRI JUN 3 2005.
GULF STREAM HAZARDS...NONE.
THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE WEST WALL OF THE GULF STREAM AS OF JUN 03, 2005 AT 1200 UTC...2 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF FOWEY ROCKS.

As we can see, Notch is well within the Gulf Stream based on his points and the tracking of the Gulf Stream which changes almost daily.

Tuesday, May 31, 2005


Sorry it has been so long since the last posting. Well in case you cannot make out the latest information, Notch has made his way south of his release site. At last check today he was about 12 miles offshore east of Carysfort Reef in the Keys in about 550 feet of water. His behavior over the past couple of days has been one where he will stay within 5-8 miles for part of the day, then he ventures past the 12 mile limit for a while and then returns. No visual observation has been made of Notch but this behavior can be his feeding patterns going into deeper water then coming back in a few miles to hang out. Other data has been gathered to measure the number of miles covered in a day and over the past 20 days or so, it has slowed to 20 miles or less swam in a day, whereas in the beginning, he had points as far apart as 120 miles from 1 day to the next. Notch has been tracked in water as shallow as 35 feet for a few hours but eventually finds his way to the shelf. We are also approaching the end of our tracking period so it is only a matter of time before we no longer receive data due to the battery life. At that time, we will post that information for everyone to be aware.

Monday, May 23, 2005


Here is the latest familiar map with the plotted area of the past couple of days. To answer questions that are circulating, yes it appears that Notch has made his way full circle to just south of his release site about 7 miles offshore. We have received other data on released Stenos noting this possiblity of behavior after release. An update on the MMC released animals shows them east of the Bahamas in the Atlantic traveling what appears to be a southeast direction. There were attempts for a sighting of Notch but those efforts were unsuccessful.

Saturday, May 21, 2005


Well it appears that almost 1 month to the date of release, Notch is back where we let him out. This morning we received several good hits indicating good surface time. He was between 7-8 miles off shore from Virginia Key in about 350-400 feet of water. More monitoring to continue.

Friday, May 20, 2005


Sorry for the missed daily updates but there are have been some recent time constraints imposed on the resource providing maps, so we will only get 2 updates a week now. There has been some talk and concern regarding the close proximity that Notch has had to the Florida coastline or at least the impression given the size of the dot and the map. First, we want to be clear in letting everyone know that Notch has not stranded. Over the course of the past few days, we have been working with various groups to provide a visual sighting on the animals. Although we have manage to see them, we are hoping to be successful and post some pictures if any that we are able to take. That is all for now, more to follow from a text perspective when available.