We actually saw the sun this morning! Data collection went well with the youngest animals engaging in LOTS of play – object play and play with each other. And Kathleen was happy because they played less with her fins! The drone flight started as Kathleen was getting ready to enter (featured photo) and showed us Trixie nursing from Gracie and Kami at the top of a pile of dolphins roughhousing in the middle of the lagoon at the water’s surface. There was much dolphin rubbing and rolling over each other this morning as well as seagrass object play.
Breakfast was yummy and filling, which was good because we did a double boat snorkel this morning. We trekked by boat east along the NW side of Roatan, passing by a set of Mangroves to get to our snorkel spot. We saw lots of fish, e.g., two puffers, several squirrelfish, blue tangs, and numerous shellfish – conchs, helmets and more, even a sea biscuit. The current was a bit stronger than we expected for the first snorkel, but the sights were worth the effort!
Lunch fortified us for first Jennifer’s talk on coral restoration followed by Dr. Kanatous’ physiology lecture. We learned lots from both of them. After the physiology talk, we watched this morning’s video data and practiced our IDs. Then, we each had a brief meeting Dr. Kanatous, Dr. D., and Manon to review our projects – either research or a PSA. (Everyone had a good handle on their topics and project type choice!)
Dinner was followed by a trivia game of DCP’s special edition Jeopardy that had trivia clues on DCP, AKR/RIMS, dolphins, aquatic life, and more. It was a fun game and congrats to Isabelle who was the big winner! Our thoughts on the day’s events follow.
Delaeni – Although I’m awful at Jeopardy (I got zero points), I did find a puffer fish on the first snorkel.
Nicole – I’m better at swimming than I am at rapping.
Isabelle – My exhaustion level is an indicator of how good the day was (I’m at a 10 out of 10).
Camille – I saw a sea cucumber today. (no, it’s not a cucumber in the sea.)
Zack – I saw the biggest puffer fish I’ve ever seen in my life today.
Harry – As a response to Zack’s comment that puffer fish must have been able to blow up to the size of a volley ball.
Jackson – when you’re getting seasick, remember to look out the back of the boat and take tums (6 of them).
Aradely – I’ve never been kicked by fins more than today.
Jaelynn – I was very cold during the snorkels but it was worth it.
Tori – The double snorkel today was extremely fun but it definitely wore me out and I’m ready for bed.
Don – Rockfish, scorpion fish, bat fish.
John – I have more future as a drone pilot than I do as a jeopardy host.
Manon – It was a nice ride to our snorkel spots. (see below)
Shane – Very pleased with the students’ project ideas. (6 research, 4 PSAs!) I got it totally wrong as I thought there’d be more PSAs.
Tomorrow is our last full day here at AKR/RIMS.
Cheers
CSU RAMS (Really Awesome Mammal Snorkelers)
