Studying sea turtles from the sky | Elizabeth Bevan | TEDxBirmingham

[Music]

[Music] feet planted on the valve for four and a

feet planted on the valve for four and a

feet planted on the valve for four and a half meter boat the Sun warming my face

half meter boat the Sun warming my face

half meter boat the Sun warming my face the wind blowing through my hair and the

the wind blowing through my hair and the

the wind blowing through my hair and the feel of the rope in my hands as I find

feel of the rope in my hands as I find

feel of the rope in my hands as I find my balance

my balance

my balance I searched the ocean looking for any

I searched the ocean looking for any

I searched the ocean looking for any discolored oblong patches of water that

discolored oblong patches of water that

discolored oblong patches of water that might reveal the location of a grazing

might reveal the location of a grazing

might reveal the location of a grazing sea turtle suddenly I see it a lighter

sea turtle suddenly I see it a lighter

sea turtle suddenly I see it a lighter patch moving over the darker sea grasses

patch moving over the darker sea grasses

patch moving over the darker sea grasses up ahead I shout to the driver and drop

up ahead I shout to the driver and drop

up ahead I shout to the driver and drop to my knees as he launches the boat full

to my knees as he launches the boat full

to my knees as he launches the boat full speed in the direction that I’m pointing

speed in the direction that I’m pointing

speed in the direction that I’m pointing my gaze fixed on that patch that might

my gaze fixed on that patch that might

my gaze fixed on that patch that might be our turtle as we approach I leap up

be our turtle as we approach I leap up

be our turtle as we approach I leap up to full rodeo stance and shout out the

to full rodeo stance and shout out the

to full rodeo stance and shout out the movements of our target to the captain

movements of our target to the captain

movements of our target to the captain left straight on 10 meters oh she’s

left straight on 10 meters oh she’s

left straight on 10 meters oh she’s going right again okay slow slow until I

going right again okay slow slow until I

going right again okay slow slow until I see the right moment as the turtle

see the right moment as the turtle

see the right moment as the turtle crosses the bow I yelled neutral the

crosses the bow I yelled neutral the

crosses the bow I yelled neutral the driver throws the boat out of gear and I

driver throws the boat out of gear and I

driver throws the boat out of gear and I dive into the water I’ve calculated the

dive into the water I’ve calculated the

dive into the water I’ve calculated the turtle’s speed leading it just enough so

turtle’s speed leading it just enough so

turtle’s speed leading it just enough so that I connect with its path and gauge

that I connect with its path and gauge

that I connect with its path and gauge the depth of the water so I don’t body

the depth of the water so I don’t body

the depth of the water so I don’t body slam the turtle into the mud I sliced

slam the turtle into the mud I sliced

slam the turtle into the mud I sliced through the cool water to find the

through the cool water to find the

through the cool water to find the smooth edges of a confused frantic and

smooth edges of a confused frantic and

smooth edges of a confused frantic and now very angry sea turtle as the

now very angry sea turtle as the

now very angry sea turtle as the tug-of-war begins the turtle tries to

tug-of-war begins the turtle tries to

tug-of-war begins the turtle tries to swim deeper despite their lumbering

swim deeper despite their lumbering

swim deeper despite their lumbering appearance on the sand turtles are

appearance on the sand turtles are

appearance on the sand turtles are actually quite graceful in the water and

actually quite graceful in the water and

actually quite graceful in the water and most of all powerful with flailing

most of all powerful with flailing

most of all powerful with flailing flippers I managed to swim the turtle

flippers I managed to swim the turtle

flippers I managed to swim the turtle over two outstretched hands that helped

over two outstretched hands that helped

over two outstretched hands that helped me halt the reptile up onto the boat we

me halt the reptile up onto the boat we

me halt the reptile up onto the boat we collect skin and blood samples for a

collect skin and blood samples for a

collect skin and blood samples for a variety of studies on the genetics

variety of studies on the genetics

variety of studies on the genetics health and diet of sea turtles before

health and diet of sea turtles before

health and diet of sea turtles before releasing it back into the water these

releasing it back into the water these

releasing it back into the water these says ry I love what I do the prospect of

says ry I love what I do the prospect of

says ry I love what I do the prospect of days like these fuel my excitement for

days like these fuel my excitement for

days like these fuel my excitement for research but we can’t always be leaping

research but we can’t always be leaping

research but we can’t always be leaping off the bow of a boat for our research

off the bow of a boat for our research

off the bow of a boat for our research specimens sometimes we need a little

specimens sometimes we need a little

specimens sometimes we need a little extra altitude innovative technologies

extra altitude innovative technologies

extra altitude innovative technologies are providing new perspectives on

are providing new perspectives on

are providing new perspectives on science and life as a sea turtle

science and life as a sea turtle

science and life as a sea turtle biologist I’m building a career on

biologist I’m building a career on

biologist I’m building a career on indulging my drive to find out what’s

indulging my drive to find out what’s

indulging my drive to find out what’s just out of sight and what’s just beyond

just out of sight and what’s just beyond

just out of sight and what’s just beyond our reach for the past several years

our reach for the past several years

our reach for the past several years I’ve been studying a species of sea

I’ve been studying a species of sea

I’ve been studying a species of sea turtle that nests mainly in the western

turtle that nests mainly in the western

turtle that nests mainly in the western Gulf of Mexico recently my passion has

Gulf of Mexico recently my passion has

Gulf of Mexico recently my passion has soared to incredible new heights by

soared to incredible new heights by

soared to incredible new heights by incorporating drone technology that’s

incorporating drone technology that’s

incorporating drone technology that’s providing all new capabilities for our

providing all new capabilities for our

providing all new capabilities for our field research drones are allowing us to

field research drones are allowing us to

field research drones are allowing us to answer questions that we couldn’t answer

answer questions that we couldn’t answer

answer questions that we couldn’t answer before and ask questions that we didn’t

before and ask questions that we didn’t

before and ask questions that we didn’t even think to ask a new tool in our

even think to ask a new tool in our

even think to ask a new tool in our scientist toolbox drones allow us to do

scientist toolbox drones allow us to do

scientist toolbox drones allow us to do things that extend beyond our physical

things that extend beyond our physical

things that extend beyond our physical limitations

limitations

limitations just like submarines take us to the

just like submarines take us to the

just like submarines take us to the depths of the oceans and microscopes and

depths of the oceans and microscopes and

depths of the oceans and microscopes and telescopes allow us to see beyond the

telescopes allow us to see beyond the

telescopes allow us to see beyond the naked eye when using our drones down in

naked eye when using our drones down in

naked eye when using our drones down in Mexico our equipment setup is a little

Mexico our equipment setup is a little

Mexico our equipment setup is a little different than what you might imagine

different than what you might imagine

different than what you might imagine the researcher and the team all huddle

the researcher and the team all huddle

the researcher and the team all huddle underneath the gigantic black bedsheet

underneath the gigantic black bedsheet

underneath the gigantic black bedsheet that blocks out the intensely bright

that blocks out the intensely bright

that blocks out the intensely bright sunlight on the nesting Beach without

sunlight on the nesting Beach without

sunlight on the nesting Beach without that sheet it’s nearly impossible to see

that sheet it’s nearly impossible to see

that sheet it’s nearly impossible to see the tablet screen that we use to operate

the tablet screen that we use to operate

the tablet screen that we use to operate the drone kind of like trying to see

the drone kind of like trying to see

the drone kind of like trying to see your iPhone screen in bright daylight to

your iPhone screen in bright daylight to

your iPhone screen in bright daylight to our surprise the turtles were actually

our surprise the turtles were actually

our surprise the turtles were actually pretty easy to pick out but we soon

pretty easy to pick out but we soon

pretty easy to pick out but we soon realized we could do so much more than

realized we could do so much more than

realized we could do so much more than just count the number of turtles we saw

just count the number of turtles we saw

just count the number of turtles we saw on our flight we could determine

on our flight we could determine

on our flight we could determine species of turtle we were looking at

species of turtle we were looking at

species of turtle we were looking at like the green turtle on your right and

like the green turtle on your right and

like the green turtle on your right and the Kemp’s ridley on your left we could

the Kemp’s ridley on your left we could

the Kemp’s ridley on your left we could even determine gender because in the sea

even determine gender because in the sea

even determine gender because in the sea turtle world yes sighs truly does matter

turtle world yes sighs truly does matter

turtle world yes sighs truly does matter we’ve seen courtship and mating behavior

we’ve seen courtship and mating behavior

we’ve seen courtship and mating behavior that have only infrequently been studied

that have only infrequently been studied

that have only infrequently been studied in the past due to the difficulty in

in the past due to the difficulty in

in the past due to the difficulty in observing and studying these behaviors

observing and studying these behaviors

observing and studying these behaviors out in the open ocean imagine the

out in the open ocean imagine the

out in the open ocean imagine the excitement bubbling from underneath that

excitement bubbling from underneath that

excitement bubbling from underneath that black bedsheet when we realized we were

black bedsheet when we realized we were

black bedsheet when we realized we were actually looking at two turtle heads an

actually looking at two turtle heads an

actually looking at two turtle heads an aerial perspective of one turtle mounted

aerial perspective of one turtle mounted

aerial perspective of one turtle mounted on the other while mating we’ve even

on the other while mating we’ve even

on the other while mating we’ve even seen aspects of courtship behavior that

seen aspects of courtship behavior that

seen aspects of courtship behavior that have never been seen before because they

have never been seen before because they

have never been seen before because they could only be observed from above

could only be observed from above

could only be observed from above looking down through the water we didn’t

looking down through the water we didn’t

looking down through the water we didn’t know they occurred because of our

know they occurred because of our

know they occurred because of our previously limited viewpoint from a boat

previously limited viewpoint from a boat

previously limited viewpoint from a boat or from shore our first flights at the

or from shore our first flights at the

or from shore our first flights at the nesting Beach captivated us by what we

nesting Beach captivated us by what we

nesting Beach captivated us by what we could see into the deeper waters off

could see into the deeper waters off

could see into the deeper waters off shore so what else could be lying just

shore so what else could be lying just

shore so what else could be lying just beyond what we already know if our early

beyond what we already know if our early

beyond what we already know if our early experiences have taught us anything

experiences have taught us anything

experiences have taught us anything there are no limits to where our

there are no limits to where our

there are no limits to where our curiosity can take us next but most

curiosity can take us next but most

curiosity can take us next but most importantly drones are providing this

importantly drones are providing this

importantly drones are providing this novel perspective on new aspects of sea

novel perspective on new aspects of sea

novel perspective on new aspects of sea turtle biology without disturbing the

turtle biology without disturbing the

turtle biology without disturbing the turtles we can be present without our

turtles we can be present without our

turtles we can be present without our physical presence influencing the

physical presence influencing the

physical presence influencing the behavior that we’re seeing but sea

behavior that we’re seeing but sea

behavior that we’re seeing but sea turtle research isn’t the only aspect of

turtle research isn’t the only aspect of

turtle research isn’t the only aspect of biology breathing new life through the

biology breathing new life through the

biology breathing new life through the use of drones drones are now being used

use of drones drones are now being used

use of drones drones are now being used in such novel ways like snot but as in a

in such novel ways like snot but as in a

in such novel ways like snot but as in a robot that collects not from whales

robot that collects not from whales

robot that collects not from whales researchers are using drones to collect

researchers are using drones to collect

researchers are using drones to collect respiratory samples from whales as they

respiratory samples from whales as they

respiratory samples from whales as they come up to breathe where before such

come up to breathe where before such

come up to breathe where before such samples required a boat and a helicopter

samples required a boat and a helicopter

samples required a boat and a helicopter to collect drones can now collect these

to collect drones can now collect these

to collect drones can now collect these samples effortlessly without the whales

samples effortlessly without the whales

samples effortlessly without the whales even knowing that they’re there drones

even knowing that they’re there drones

even knowing that they’re there drones are also helping protect our environment

are also helping protect our environment

are also helping protect our environment being deployed to save sea turtles from

being deployed to save sea turtles from

being deployed to save sea turtles from poachers on Mexico’s Pacific coast these

poachers on Mexico’s Pacific coast these

poachers on Mexico’s Pacific coast these are some of the largest nesting sites

are some of the largest nesting sites

are some of the largest nesting sites for several species of endangered sea

for several species of endangered sea

for several species of endangered sea turtles yet they are also the primary

turtles yet they are also the primary

turtles yet they are also the primary targets for egg poachers who haul giant

targets for egg poachers who haul giant

targets for egg poachers who haul giant sacks of eggs off the beach to sell on

sacks of eggs off the beach to sell on

sacks of eggs off the beach to sell on the black market though exploitation of

the black market though exploitation of

the black market though exploitation of turtle meat and eggs has long been

turtle meat and eggs has long been

turtle meat and eggs has long been banned in Mexico rumors of their

banned in Mexico rumors of their

banned in Mexico rumors of their aphrodisiac properties and demand for

aphrodisiac properties and demand for

aphrodisiac properties and demand for consumption have fueled the fires of

consumption have fueled the fires of

consumption have fueled the fires of poaching activity but authorities are

poaching activity but authorities are

poaching activity but authorities are now using drones to locate and track the

now using drones to locate and track the

now using drones to locate and track the movements of poachers to help save sea

movements of poachers to help save sea

movements of poachers to help save sea turtles from the clutches of the

turtles from the clutches of the

turtles from the clutches of the black-market

black-market

black-market our passion for protecting our

our passion for protecting our

our passion for protecting our environment goes way back to our

environment goes way back to our

environment goes way back to our experiences as children when we’re all

experiences as children when we’re all

experiences as children when we’re all led by that insatiable desire to get our

led by that insatiable desire to get our

led by that insatiable desire to get our hands dirty our feet wet and make lots

hands dirty our feet wet and make lots

hands dirty our feet wet and make lots of mistakes we’ve certainly made our

of mistakes we’ve certainly made our

of mistakes we’ve certainly made our fair share of mistakes in my area of

fair share of mistakes in my area of

fair share of mistakes in my area of research take for example our prize

research take for example our prize

research take for example our prize drone it went out to complete one final

drone it went out to complete one final

drone it went out to complete one final flight plan but never came back to the

flight plan but never came back to the

flight plan but never came back to the home point it’s kind of a critical part

home point it’s kind of a critical part

home point it’s kind of a critical part in a drones flight plan

in a drones flight plan

in a drones flight plan the intelligent batteries didn’t tell us

the intelligent batteries didn’t tell us

the intelligent batteries didn’t tell us that they were drained until way too

that they were drained until way too

that they were drained until way too late the aircraft immediately attempted

late the aircraft immediately attempted

late the aircraft immediately attempted to land announcing in a calm female

to land announcing in a calm female

to land announcing in a calm female voice

voice

voice landing gear lowering

landing gear lowering

landing gear lowering no amount of frantic joystick

no amount of frantic joystick

no amount of frantic joystick maneuvering was able to save the

maneuvering was able to save the

maneuvering was able to save the aircraft from a watery and muddy fate

aircraft from a watery and muddy fate

aircraft from a watery and muddy fate hopefully mistakes aren’t quite as

hopefully mistakes aren’t quite as

hopefully mistakes aren’t quite as drastic as the one we experienced with

drastic as the one we experienced with

drastic as the one we experienced with our first drone adventure though we may

our first drone adventure though we may

our first drone adventure though we may have lost our drone we never lost our

have lost our drone we never lost our

have lost our drone we never lost our passion for using them to explore

passion for using them to explore

passion for using them to explore biology in a whole new way but it is

biology in a whole new way but it is

biology in a whole new way but it is essential to our advancement in

essential to our advancement in

essential to our advancement in knowledge to always return to that

knowledge to always return to that

knowledge to always return to that innate excitement that motivates us

innate excitement that motivates us

innate excitement that motivates us perhaps the reason we are so enticed by

perhaps the reason we are so enticed by

perhaps the reason we are so enticed by drones is that they allow us to

drones is that they allow us to

drones is that they allow us to accomplish the seemingly impossible they

accomplish the seemingly impossible they

accomplish the seemingly impossible they allow us to explore beyond our

allow us to explore beyond our

allow us to explore beyond our limitations while having less of an

limitations while having less of an

limitations while having less of an impact on the animals we study maybe one

impact on the animals we study maybe one

impact on the animals we study maybe one day drones will not only stalk the

day drones will not only stalk the

day drones will not only stalk the turtle from above but could help us take

turtle from above but could help us take

turtle from above but could help us take the samples without ever having to

the samples without ever having to

the samples without ever having to wrestle it onto the boat now I doubt I

wrestle it onto the boat now I doubt I

wrestle it onto the boat now I doubt I will ever lose my thrill at diving off a

will ever lose my thrill at diving off a

will ever lose my thrill at diving off a boat for my research specimens but just

boat for my research specimens but just

boat for my research specimens but just as coming back to the home point is a

as coming back to the home point is a

as coming back to the home point is a vital component of any drones flight

vital component of any drones flight

vital component of any drones flight plan we too have to sometimes change our

plan we too have to sometimes change our

plan we too have to sometimes change our perspectives in life to return to what

perspectives in life to return to what

perspectives in life to return to what motivates us because everybody has a

motivates us because everybody has a

motivates us because everybody has a passion that motivates them to make a

passion that motivates them to make a

passion that motivates them to make a difference in their world drone

difference in their world drone

difference in their world drone technology has revolutionized my

technology has revolutionized my

technology has revolutionized my viewpoint into the world of sea turtles

viewpoint into the world of sea turtles

viewpoint into the world of sea turtles how could a new perspective renew your

how could a new perspective renew your

how could a new perspective renew your sense of enthusiasm for adventure and

sense of enthusiasm for adventure and

sense of enthusiasm for adventure and launch you off the bow of your own boat

launch you off the bow of your own boat

launch you off the bow of your own boat thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]