Parameters such as clutch frequency and re-nesting interval of marine turtles are usually calculated from intensive beach surveys. Here, existing satellite telemetry datasets were used to measure these parameters remotely for ten turtle rookeries in Western Australia across two species (n=54 green turtles and n=27 hawksbill turtles). These parameters have not been documented in peer reviewed literature for Western Australia rookeries, and there is only limited information available for Australian rookeries in general and these parameters are needed. Nesting success of green turtles was greater (32%) compared to other rookeries in Australia as well as nesting success of hawksbill turtles (60%). However, nesting success was potentially underestimated due to unavailability of precise location estimates (GPS) and haul-out data for some of the datasets. Re-nesting interval and clutch frequency was 11.5 days and 4 for green turtles and 16.5 days and 2.4 for hawksbill turtles. To improve accuracy, satellite tags would ideally be equipped with GPS receivers and programmed to record haul-out events in future studies. However, the approach used here of making use of existing datasets compiled for studies of movement behaviour is a feasible and efficient way to extend these datasets and gain knowledge of the nesting behaviour of threatened turtle species.
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