The CAVU/Sea Turtle Conservancy Turtle Survey Team just returned from a multi-day leatherback sea turtle nesting census. Covering the Atlantic coastline from the Costa Rica/Nicaragua border to Colon, Panama, STC researchers were able to locate, count and photo-document Leatherback nests. While flying above the coastline, nesting areas are easily distinguishable by their unique crawls in the sand (as shown in the images left and below). The sections of coastline being surveyed are marked with GPS waypoints, which makes comparing year to year data easy. When a nesting location was noted by the counters, a GPS embedded image was captured to cross reference the sighting. Having a complimentary photo record is a very useful tool to verify the observers remarks.
Preliminary population numbers were recorded, with one critical beach, Chiriqui, showing more than 700 visible nesting sites. The latest survey was an expanded version of the mission carried out in 2013. The team consisted of Dr. Emma Harrison and Cristina Ordoñez of STC and Capt. Alex Cavaletti and photographer Sean Davis of CAVU. More details will be added soon!
Hi, I'm Jordan
Switzerland
Jordan is a sixth generation Texan, born and raised. However, her interest in cultures, languages, and people took her far from her roots. She graduated from the American University of Paris with a Bachelor of Science in International Economics in 1999. Wanting more global experience, Jordan moved to Istanbul, Turkey. Living with a Turkish family, she was immersed in local culture and language. She was employed by FinansInvest, a Turkish brokerage firm, for which she conducted quantitative analysis on the Istanbul Stock Exchange and financial reviews of listed companies.
View Full ProfileJordan's Recent Updates
View All Updates from JordanMore Posts You Might Like
Ahead of the Tide Makes a Splash in Florida
Since February, CAVU’s most recent campaign Ahead of the Tide has reached more than a million people throughout the state of Florida, around the country and the globe…
Unearthed Launch Event
CAVU is set to launch Unearthed: Exploring Oil & Gas Issues in New Mexico at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe on Thursday, November…
2026 Student Showcase: Best Storytelling and Most Practical & Effective Concept
Across this year’s CAVU Student Showcase, students didn’t just learn about climate change—they told stories, built solutions, and showed what’s possible when young people are…
A Day in the Life of a CAVU Educator: Inside a Classroom Full of Climate Innovators
By the time CAVU Program and Operations Director Rebecca VanArnam arrived at Fieldstone Middle School in New Jersey on Friday, December 19, the energy was…