Tag: older content

DCP’s Field Course in Ethological Studies, with Georgetown College, is officially underway! The group started the program in Florida on Sunday with a simple layover before departing for Bimini on Monday morning. The plane to Bimini was the smallest that many of us had ever been on. From the air we could see how clear the water is – and how small Bimini is!
After we settled in, ate lunch and had an orientation we headed in search of dolphins. It was a very rewarding first day on the boat.

Sunday was busy from start to finish as I made final preparations for DCP’s May Field Course & Bimini Eco-Tour – and went on a dolphin trip in between! The Bimini Adventures dolphin trip departed shortly after 1430 and it was an absolutely beautiful trip! We enjoy our observation and swim with Atlantic spotted dolphins, including Tilly (#87), Noodle (#94), Juliette (#12) & calf, and Leslie (#80) & calf.

Saturday and Sunday were my last full days in Great Harbour Cay. On Saturday Kendria and I took the tracking equipment on the boat and were joined by GHC’s nurse and all-around-great-lady so that we could train her to use the equipment to help monitor Rita & Georgie next month. The signals were intermittent, suggesting that the pair might be resting and therefore submerging their tags frequently.

On Thursday, the weather did not look in our favor for much manatee tracking. So, Kendria and I caught up on our various computer “chores” before making a delivery to the mail boat, bound for Nassau. At around 1700 we received a phone call reporting a manatee at a nearby dock. We grabbed the gear and headed over, but at first, found nothing. Just as we were about to leave, we saw the adult male, who is not yet tagged, swim through the area (followed by a nurse shark!).

I arrived safely in Great Harbour Cay (Berry Islands) late Tuesday afternoon and was greeted by Kendria Ferguson, BMMRO’s team leader for this manatee tracking project. At the field house, I also met Russell Morgan (Dolphin Cay, Atlantis) and soon, the three of us were on the boat, looking for Rita & Georgie. We did not have to go far before we picked up the radio signal from their tags.

I’m sitting in the South Bimini airport, awaiting my flight to Nassau where I’ll connect to continue to Great Harbour Cay (Berry Islands, Bahamas). Fear not – this is only a temporary break from Bimini. I’ll be back soon! But, what’s going on in GHC?
I’ll be assisting in tracking efforts of Rita and Georgie, two manatees! (Yes! Manatees in The Bahamas!). Rita had been living in Spanish Wells, where she gave birth to Georgie. But, Hurricane Irene displaced them, and they were found in Nassau Harbour.

This year’s field course with University of New Brunswick Saint John was another success. It was not without its challenges (two days of terrible weather + one day of fantastic weather and no dolphins), but the group stayed in high spirits and engaged in the course, enjoying exciting snorkel stops, a great underwater observation of crater feeding bottlenose, surfing spotteds and more. Thanks to each and every one of you for coming to Bimini!
The UNBSJ crew also completed another successful beach clean-up last Friday.

On Wednesday morning, we had our second guest lecture, this time from Dr. Justin Gregg and on dolphin cognition. It was really interesting and we later thought about whether or not there was one thing that tells us that dolphins are highly cognitive creatures or if we have to take into account a combination of factors.
We had a passionate debate on dolphin hunt – it was a mock IWC debate, and just like the real IWC, things got pretty heated. But, we were all still friends at the end.