In a previous study it was shown that loggerhead (Caretta caretta) eggs exposed during embryonic development to a distorted magnetic field produced hatchlings incapable of using magnetic information for orientation or navigation. My study was done to determine if hatchlings could recover from those effects when magnetic distortions were confined to shorter time periods (the first, second, or last third of embryonic development). Under those conditions, I found that orientation still failed and conclude that even a relatively short exposure to field distortions might potentially incapacitate hatchlings that use magnetic cues during offshore migration.