Saying 'Thank You.' I still have about 10 days in Japan for this summer but that is time needed for administrative responsibilities and other chores. I will spend today cleaning my gear and packing it for travel across Japan and then across the Pacific Ocean. I will also visit the various senchoo and Kenkyukai and Kyoukai leaders to express my gratitude for their support and consideration of me while I stayed on Mikura this summer. 'Osewani narimasu' means 'thank you for taking good care of me'.
Much socializing ... or possible theft?Today was my last day on the water for my field work this summer in Japan. While the dolphins were not interested in swimmers or the boats, it was still a great day (any day on the water is great!). Mostly the dolphins seemed to be resting, but one group was highly active with much rolling and splashing observed at the surface. This group also contained a brand new calf!! It bobbed above the others ever so often. It is #032's (Atokake's) calf.
What Dolphins Eat and How they do it It is ironic that just yesterday I recorded a sub-adult female bottlenose dolphin eating a 'gar-like' fish. Very long and thin. This female, #223, had the fish laterally (i.e., cross ways) in its mouth and seemed to be moving it around. Nashing her jaws just enough to reposition the fish but not too much to release it from her mouth. Not quite playing with her food, she seemed more to be getting it in position to swallow whole, head first.