Our first full day began with AM data collection – we rode the water taxi to Bailey’s Key to meet the dolphins and do our first surface logs while Kathleen collected data underwater. Our group gets introduced to the docks and dolphins just below.
She said the underwater visibility was much improved, thanks likely to a bit of a current that arrived. Most of the dolphins were observed and Tank, Buzz, and Rocky were up to their social tricks. But, for Kathleen, Georgie stole the show as Tank’s “whisperer”! She was able to rest her pectoral fin against his side or back and calm him down right away. It was amazing to watch! You can see Georgie and Tank in a pair swim position in the featured photo.
After a yummy breakfast, we spent the morning in the classroom learning about DCP and about individual identification as well as the scars and marks used to recognize the RIMS dolphins. A few have permanent marks and others have temporary rake marks. We are up to the challenge of recognizing all 20 dolphins in this group! After being introduced to the dolphins, we reviewed the morning’s data and tried to learn and practice recognizing their marks.
Lunch fortified us after the morning classes and led us to the pool to try out the MVA. Not as easy as it looked but fun to try. We went from the pool by boat to Bailey’s Key for some snorkeling and then got to sit with the trainers to meet the dolphins during their last session of the day. We learned about their husbandry behaviors and some hand signals …
After cleaning up, we attended the fish ID talk and then dinner (with 1 or 2 pineapple upside down cakes also consumed!). Our thoughts from the day follow:
Annabelle – I felt very humbled and gained a lot of appreciation for identification of the dolphins today.
Grace – I was really impressed by the buoyancy of the array and how hard it was to swim without one’s arms when holding the array
Kristen – It was really awesome being able to hear the dolphin vocalizations underwater while snorkeling close to the pens.
Roxanne – I loved being able to compare training methods in Roatan to what I’ve seen in the states.
Madison – I really hope by the end of this trip I can identify all 20 dolphins.
Cody – I find it so enjoyable to do study marine life that this experience doesn’t feel like a class.
Emma – I was excited to learn about the whole realm of research that I didn’t know existed.
Aubrey – I found it really enjoyable to see a dolphin training session up close.
David – Waking up at sunrise is so much easier when you know you’re going to study dolphins!
Camdyn – I find it so fascinating that there are so many different physical characteristics to use to identify individual dolphins.
Emma J – I spent over a $100 at the gift shop and I’m going back for more (to remember this fantastic course by).
Michaela – I do not think I will ever not have a smile on my face in the presence of dolphins.
Jamie – I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to spend a week away from URI studying dolphins with everyone.
Justin – I was thrilled to hear the squeals of excitement (generated by humans) when we first saw the dolphins.
Manon – Welcome URI students!
Tomorrow is data collection and Maya Key.
Cheers
The URI RAMbling Pod