Tracking Hawksbills

Characterizing how hawksbills use their habitat is a fundamental aspect of their recovery. We use satellite technology to track locations of the species.

Beginning in 2008, ICAPO, with the support of NOAA and several other key partners, has equipped hawksbills with satellite tags throughout the eastern Pacific. Transmitters send signals to orbiting satellites, which relay the location on to researchers. We use this information to study habitat use and to gain the following insights for effective management and conservation strategies:

• Resource use and requirements.
• Migration pathways.
• Extent of home ranges (area occupied).
• Diving behavior.
• Protected area design.

See each of the individual tracks by clicking on the links below. You can also find peer-reviewed publications based on these tracks on our Scientific Research page.