First Day of Data Collection

This morning was our first early morning data collection session of surface observations while Kathleen was recording underwater video of the dolphins. It went well and we spent about 45 min asking questions and discussing methods for data collection and research questions before breakfast. We also had an introduction to DCP and to DCP’s research at RIMS, as well as an introduction to …

Travel to Roatan

As travel days go, ours was quite pleasant! About a 1.5 hour drive to Miami, followed by about a 2 hour flight from Miami to Roatan. The only lengthy portion of our travel day was the 47+ min wait in the TSA line. After a bit of time in Roatan immigration, we met Alexza and Greg for our …

Improving Underwater Visibility

I actually could see the dolphins underwater this morning when they played with each other … and when they tried to entice me to play, as you can see with Ronnie here. He pulled a piece of sargasso seaweed from the fence line and tried to get me to take it and play a game of fetch with it! But … I was observing and being as non-invasive as possible. This meant I could not play a game of seaweed with Ronnie.

Mac is Back!!

Our day began with the worst underwater visibility I have ever experienced. The featured photo is Ronnie and Lenca … their heads are within a few inches of me and I could not see their flukes! I was only in the water for about 3 minutes. I truly hope the visibility improves tomorrow.

The angst of two …

A Deluge of Rain!!

The morning, afternoon, and early evening brought … RAIN! I was able to get in at Bailey’s Key for just under 7 minutes. The rain started just after I entered the water and then became an onslaught. Bill and Ron said it felt like hail. You can see Ronnie in this image just as the rain got heavy …

Manon Themelin, M.Sc.

DCP Research Associate Manon Themelin joined DCP in 2019 as a Master’s degree student from France. Her original work focused on relationship quality in dolphins, applying a method used with chimpanzees and ravens by colleagues in Europe to the DCP dolphin study populations off Bimini and at RIMS. After receiving her degree, Manon became a… Continue reading Manon Themelin, M.Sc.