Our last AM data collection session was filled with many exciting interactions and all kinds of switch-a-roos – between adult females and calves and young dolphins playing amongst themselves! After a fortifying breakfast, we returned to Bailey’s Key to meet Maury and Poli during our encounters, and then to swim with the dolphins! The swim was amazing!! It was a lot of group swimming, some speed swims, lots of interest by Poli and Sandy in several of us. There was also some rough housing between Rocky and Buzz.
Tag: older content
Rain, not-Rain, then more Rain, followed by some “fun in the sun”
The dolphins were playful again this morning. There were some side leaps, some chases, and lots of seagrass and seedpod play. Our observations were ‘dry’ as the rain held off until breakfast. The downpour postponed our encounter and swim from this morning to tomorrow morning because the underwater visibility dropped severely. So, we shifted to some indoor and some outdoor (between rain drops) activities. We had a brief career informal discussion followed by more inter-tidal critter GIS tagging and a bit of data entry.
Data – dolphins, space use, tidal zone critters – and Fiesta Night!
Our water taxi ride at 6:15 AM was smooth and deposited us to Bailey’s Key where the dolphins were playful and engaged! We had several mom/calf pairs swimming all around and almost everyone playing! Sandy was never without a blade of seagrass. Buzz and Rocky wrestled and mouthed at each other. And, there was much allo-parenting (i.e., babysitting) ongoing. Bailey hung out with Calli and her calf. Poli swam with Gracie’s calf … while Gracie was close by and monitoring. And Elli seemed to herd her calf away from Maury.
The Night Snorkel! Intertidal zone observations and, of course, dolphin data collection
This morning was a quiet session for the dolphins – lots of pair swims and low activity levels. But, the visibility was good and we were able to see the mother/calf pairs in group swims. After a yummy breakfast, we spent the morning identifying animals that live in the inter-tidal zones around Anthony’s Key. There were crabs, urchins, chitons, and more. Late morning had us entering our space use data and confirming GIS positioning from the panoramic photos. This is a new method but should help us examine how dolphins are using their space in the main lagoon.
Instructions are important!
Today was a great day that began with dolphin observations at Bailey’s Key (Lots of play was observed – see Tank here with a mangrove seed pod!) and then we spent the day at Maya Key snorkeling, investigating the replica of the Mayan ruin at Copan, and checking out the rescued animals calling the key home.
Leo – Due to today’s incredible snorkeling experience I have decided that I would like to have more experience working with coral. Because it’s amazing how much a colony of small organisms can group and sustain their ecosystem over time in different ways.
Our First Full Day at AKR and RIMS!
Today was a long but full day and included dolphin observations, classroom lectures, panoramic photo training, GPS-use training, a bird-ID challenge, reef snorkeling from shore, an inter-tidal critter hunt (with cameras!), and the fish ID lecture in the RIMS classroom. Of course, meals and water taxi rides punctuated those events!
Here, some of us return after picking up our snorkel gear from the dive shop (Thanks Brie!).
Below is everyone’s favorite part of their day …
Dr. K – My favorite thing of today was when Dr.
Travel to Roatan – we made it!
We traveled from three different cities to all converge on Roatan … and we all made it! The cover photo is the group after getting to AKR, but before taking the water taxi to the key and our rooms!
Of course, we were all more awake than our first group morning photo … taken at San Antonio airport!
After settling in our rooms and shifting to shorts from travel wear, we went to the RIMS classroom and got oriented to Roatan, AKR, and introduced to the research and our week.
Pre-Check and Last-Minute Zoom Chat before Travel!
Finally, after almost 19 months of waiting, the St. Mary’s University (StMU) student group is heading to Roatan with DCP! Our program was postponed from the original dates in March 2020, due to COVID and caution. But, this morning, we all completed our Honduras Pre-Check forms online and reviewed logistics for tomorrow’s travel. Excitement is in the air! We are all looking forward to traveling to Roatan and Anthony’s Key Resort (AKR). There are 15 students and two professors from StMU and me from DCP joining this group.
DCP Deep Dive: Translators of the Pacific Ocean’s Stories
*Content warning: images of dead animals (unknown cause and indigenous hunting), blubber dissection, and the topic of subsistence hunting are shown/discussed during this talk. Examples of trauma and challenges to ocean animals are discussed.*
In this Deep Dive, Dr. Amy C. Hirons discusses the ways in which the largest ocean basin on the planet is a collector of both nature’s and man’s history. Plants and animals can be used to help interpret what the oceans have recorded through time.
Dr.
DCP Dolphin Lesson: Animal Creativity is Wild!
In this Dolphin Lesson, Dr. Dee opens young students’ (& young at heart!) minds to creativity in animals. Bring your creativity and a cardboard box as we explore creativity and some cool animal examples.
Dolphin Lessons are geared toward ages 6-13, but everyone is welcome.
Love dolphins? Love science? You've come to the right place!
Whether you’re a young student interested in learning more about dolphin biology, a college student looking for internship experiences working with dolphins, or a seasoned researcher hoping to connect with colleagues on topics of dolphin behavior, ecology, or cognition, you’ve come to the right place.
The Dolphin Communication Project charitable solicitation number ch42894, meets all requirements specified by the florida solicitation of contributions act. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the state of florida, or 850-410-3800 when calling outside the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.