Volunteer Researchers/Ecotourists Arrive Today was slow - no underwater observation and no visit to Bailey's Key. We did watch the dolphins at the RIMS area. We even were able to help the trainers for these 6 dolphins by remaining stationary in the water for the dolphins or letting them practice behaviors with us. Definite rewards for us researchers!!
Participants arrive in two groups to help us with data collection and preliminary analyses.
Much social rubbing and some fighting It seemed that tension filled the water. Mateo joined our group (under observation) the previous day and he was the focus of attention for Buster, BigBoy and Bill. After about ten minutes, Tela and Mika (both young females) swam at the male group aggressively. Much head-to-head and right angle posturing followed. At one point, BigBoy tailslapped Tela on her melon (it sounded and looked like an 'ouch'!).
In our second underwater observation, the roles seemed reversed with Mateo rubbing and pushing at Tela, BigBoy and Buster.
Robin got wet, KD sizzled on the tower We spent an hour watching from the surface, quizzing ourselves on IDs and assessing activity level. Kathleen passed, Robin failed: 'no Robin, that's not Paya, that's Esteban.' After the first training session, Robin spent 30 min underwwater. Dolphins are ingenious and will play with just about anything in their environment - and we do mean anything! We observed BigBoy swimming near the bottom where eelgrass grows.