We’ll fix the photos in this post as soon as we can. They will also be on DCP’s Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.
Data collection was WINDY but fun. We prepped for our roles with a briefing before heading out to collect data (see below).
We saw some interesting behaviors with a few leaps and some social interactions at the surface. Rocky and Sandy both seem enamored of Kathleen’s fins. Buzz checked them out too but also spent time with his mom, Alita. Buzz is still nursing, as you can see in the featured photo! Our session this morning included a full space use set of observations and the surface data too. After a delicious and nutritious breakfast, we headed to the classroom to be formally introduced to all the dolphins and learn to recognize them by their individual marks. We also watched the video from the morning session in the afternoon. We learned how to tell the difference between Gracie and Alita (see below left photo, Gracie is on the right in that photo) and how to recognize Kami, Poli, and Stan (in middle photo). Gracie was also often seen with her female offspring, Trixie (right photo). We are well on our way to our goal of learning how to ID all the dolphins on the fly!
The late morning had many of us on our first boat ride and snorkel – We jumped into the water from the boat to check out the fish on the Lawson’s Rock Reef! We saw several critters including a Queen Angelfish.
The afternoon (after lunch, of course) was spent with a short bit of free time (45 min) and then a Seek contest to find as many different types of Flora and Fauna as we could around the resort. After about 45 min of that, we returned to the game room to review the morning’s video and try our hands more at the dolphin IDs. We’re getting there!
Kelly – I really enjoyed learning about the different dolphin IDs and what is used to ID them. It’s a lot harder that I thought it was gonna be.
Jove – Snorkeling was humbling but super exciting to see some of the animals (fishes) we learned about the day prior.
Abby – I’m a little out of practice with IDs but it’s starting to come back.
TJ – I learned how important it is to eat bananas!
Bella – I thoroughly enjoyed the data collection more than I thought but it was very hard ignoring Buzz in front of me … but I did it!
Nate – Maneuvering around the coral while snorkeling and the boat ride back were the highlights of my day.
Brielle – I’m excited to try out the dolphin IDs tomorrow during data collection and hopefully get better at it throughout the week.
Jonas – While I was snorkeling for the first time in the ocean from boat I felt like I was fighting for my life, but I had fun! Then I saw an agouti sleeping under a cabin.
Robert – I had a really fun time snorkeling today because I got to see a southern stingray that had a little fish buddy!
Dallas – While snorkeling I got to see a barracuda, a stingray, and Manon dive a million feet to the bottom. I was so impressed.
Taylor – We started learning about dolphin ID marks today. My goal is to get 15 by the end of the week.
Megan – Angel fish are a lot bigger than I thought they were and I need a lot of practice with dolphin IDs.
Maddie – I liked going on the seek game, especially the agouti eating an Indian mango.
Annabelle – I really like watching the dolphins in the morning. The way they move when going slow, it’s very calming. It’s good motivation to get up in the morning.
Jose – It took me long, but I am glad I found my rhythm snorkeling.
Mario – If you can’t ID a dolphin the first time or the second time or the third time, try try again!
Heather – I had fun playing in the water today.
Melissa – It was great to see the students enjoy their first boat snorkel!
Manon – Good job everybody on the IDs! keep it up!
We look forward to another full day tomorrow.
Cheers
StMU R3