Well folks, looks like the winds are going to die down over the next couple of days. YAY! Boat time, here I come! Until then,
Tag: older content
Much Data Collected
Three research projects currently ongoing at DE for DCP Our day began early with our trip to DE. Our team was one member short because Kristy returned to the USA for classes. We had two sessions for MVA data collection. The first was with Nina, her calf Cacique, Soca and Aunty V. Before the end of the session, Nina was swimming closer to me with Cacique on my side of her body. I also docuemtned Cacique nursing from his mom.
Our second session was with Dot and her calf and Chippy and her calf.
Kathleen’s first day in the water
The first few minutes are the breathtakers! That first jump into the water somewhat takes your breath away but once you begin swimming a bit, then it is okay and feels a bit warmer (even if only in my mind). Thank goodness the sessions are only ~30 min.
My first session was truncated at 13:56 min because Princess decided she really liked me and wanted to crowd me out. I try to have the dolphins ignore me so that I can record dolphin-dolphin behavior and interactions.
Fire Ants
This report is so ridiculous that I’ll keep it short. The fire ants have attacked again. And I made the mistake of not checking my shorts! Needless to say, my hip and surrounding area are completely devoured. Ouch! We did find one potential source of the ferocious creatures. The pelican case for the Top Dawg camera system sits just far enough off the floor for one of the island’s friendly lizards to hide beneath. He thought he was safe. But, he was not safe from those fire ants!
The second phase of our research team arrives
Kathleen joins John and Kristy and brings scientists from Sweden, too The underwater visibility was not great but Kristy still was able to collect some video data with the MVA. John was able to capture several images of the facility as well.
Kathleen arrived to overlap for a few days with Kristy and then finish up this month's field season. Also joining DCP this trip are Mats Amundin, Christer Blomqvist, Josefin Starkhammar, and Sofia Dahl representing Linköping University and Kolmårdens Djurpark in Sweden.
The Year of the Dolphin
2007 is a year with major significance for dolphin enthusiasts as it has been officially declared the Year of
A more promising forecast
The winds are still strong, but my ant bite infection is better & the forecast is much more promising for the weekend. So, I’ve been spending my free time walking on the beach and my work time going through digital photographs that still need to be ID’d. My other big project is to lay out a “stranding response plan,” which will be available should a dolphin stranding event occur in the future.
Ahoy, mateys!
Due to a mid-day meeting, we didn't go to DE today MaryEllen and I did more exploring of downtown Nassau today. We checked out the Pirate Museum, some other museums, and shopping. There are so many things to do in Nassau, and we ran out of time to visit them all!! John arrived today, to do some filming for DCP and DE, and MaryEllen leaves tomorrow, so our focus will shift back towards data collection for the next couple of weeks.
More data, and Atlantis
Today's data includes footage of another calf! Twice today I swam with Soca, Miss Merlin, Nina, and Nina's calf. Nina and her calf came closer to me and the MVA than Dot and her calf have – he even came up to me by himself once or twice! I saw a lot of bubbles from Nina, also, both while she was with her calf and while the calf was separated from her. Our afternoon was spent wandering around (and getting lost in) Atlantis, scouting out possibilities for teenagers and adults to explore on upcoming trips.
The ants appear to be gone, but
Well, the last time I posted, I was pleased to walk away from my ant encounter with only one bite. But, man, what a bite it was! I’ve now got a sore, red, swollen ankle. It doesn’t appear to be getting worse, so now there’s just a pen mark around it & I’m watching it carefully. On the dolphin front, it looks like these field reports will be quiet for the next week or so. The winds have picked up to between 15 – 20 knots.