Saturday 4 May began with wrap-up from Friday and a break so we could go to the local straw market. Then, we had a guest lecture, via Skype, from Dr. Justin Gregg. Justin talked about intelligence and dolphins. We took away the main points that it is very hard to measure intelligence and it probably isn’t very accurate to place different species on an intelligence hierarchy.
After lunch, we prepared for our upcoming debate and then headed out on the boat. It was rough when we first headed out, but it became progressively calmer as the afternoon progressed.
Tag: older content
Dolphin-mistic
It’s that time of year: students from University of New Brunswick Saint John are in Bimini! On Thursday morning, six of us packed up and departed the SharkLab, where we had spent the last week. We were sad to leave, but we were ready to experience something new. We met Kel at the South Bimini water taxi and headed North. Two of us were still in Fort Lauderdale ready to get to Bimini for the first time! We left the hotel and headed to the airport – but our flight was delayed slightly due to rain. Dr.
Beaked whale strands in Bimini
On 23 April 2013, a local bonefish guide stumbled upon a rare sight while on the shallow flats of Bimini: a beaked whale. Beaked whales are deep water animals and in all of DCP’s years on Bimini, a beaked whale has never been observed here. In the years since DCP’s Kel Sweeting became part of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (2008), there has not been a marine mammal stranding here either. In fact, this may have been the first marine mammal stranding on Bimini in many, many years.
The animal was first observed alive.
Bimini Ecotour Opportunity!
Have you ever wanted to swim with wild dolphins?
Have you wondered how it is that DCP studies wild dolphins?
Have you ever wanted to have a relaxing vacation in The Bahamas?
We know the answers were yes, so come join us this summer at our Bimini, Bahamas field site!
30 June – 5 July (including arrival & departure days)
$1845 (double occupancy, check discount price;
Gazette 17.1 is here!
The latest issue of the Dolphin Gazette is here! In it, we share stories of our January data collection at Dolphin Encounters, provide updates on upcoming opportunities to join us in the field, announce our haiku contest and more! As usual it is packed with dolphin photos too! We hope you enjoy reading this issue and share it with your friends.
Job Opportunities
The Dolphin Communication Project does not have any vacancies or job opportunities available at present. We often receive queries from people interested in working with us, and many are surprised to learn that DCP is run almost exclusively by volunteers. Our core team consists of our Director, Kathleen Dudzinski, Research Associate and Bimini Research Manager, Kelly Melillo-Sweeting, and our Senior Research Associate (and web guru) Justin Gregg.
Apes and Dolphins Seminar Series
For all you dolphin and ape fans out there: DCP researcher Justin Gregg be giving a series of seminars (together with the philosopher Esteban Rivas) this summer concerning the study of intelligence and language in apes and dolphins. The first seminar titled “Why can’t apes and dolphins talk?” takes place on April 13th at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. If this interests you, or if you think someone you know might be interested, check out visit www.apesanddolphins.com and/or like the seminar’s Facebook page.
Application Deadline Extended!
DCP is pleased to announce that applications will now be accepted until 15 February 2013.
Applications for what, you say?
Our 12-night field course studying wild dolphins in Bimini, The Bahamas, that’s what!
Join Sacred Heart University and DCP from 28 May – 9 June for a 200-level, 3-credit field course. With introductions to dolphin biology, behavior and photo-ID, this course includes 8 boat trips in search of Bimini’s wild dolphins. During those trips, students will help search for dolphins, record sighting data and collect underwater digital photographs for DCP’s photo-ID catalog.
Advice for students wishing to study dolphins
Following from Justin’s blog post on this subject, we thought it might be helpful to let students know that the journal Aquatic Mammals put together a collection of videos featuring advice to students wishing to pursue a career in marine mammal science. Over 40 if the world’s leading marine mammalogists provide students with words of wisdom on how to break into the field.
Application Extended: 2013 Field Course!
DEADLINE EXTENDED:
2013 Field Course in Cetacean Ecology Bimini, The Bahamas Arrive: 28 May 2013, Depart 9 June 2013
In a nutshell: Dr. Deirdre Yeater of Sacred Heart University will lead this 200-level university course at DCP’s Bimini field site. Students will gain an introduction to dolphin biology and behavior as well learn real-life research techniques while observing wild Atlantic spotted and/or bottlenose dolphins.