Fin-ally, Updates!
Last field season our team worked hard on our research projects as well as photo ID! There was a lot of trial and error with our first research project- our initial goals were to be able to map the communication patterns of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay and to try and determine whether or not dolphins have “accents”, However we came up against multiple barriers in trying to take the data. The main issue being that so much dolphin communication comes through body language, and after several attempts we discovered that the Bay is simply too murky to be able to collect clear video.
After our first field season, we have really been able to hone in on what is possible going forward, as well as what is achievable by us as a smaller non-profit. With that said, moving forward we are going to focus on surface labs, such as photo ID and breath-rate labs. Breath rate labs for example, are the number one way to gauge dolphin health, which is in turn a reflection off the health of the Bay. We also hope to focus on photo ID which will give us an accurate head count of local dolphins.
Last field season we ascertained that there are bottlenose dolphins (Tursious Truncatus) that come this far up the Bay, and thus many research opportunities! By chance, we are also the first organisation to do photo ID on common dolphins in Cornwall, England. In addition to this, we also have expanded our team, adding interns Jasper and Arden and volunteer Madeline. In the off season, our crew has been expanding our dolphin knowledge. Our founder, Una Harrington, volunteered with the Wild Dolphin Project and worked extensively with wild spotted dolphins, and had an article about her trip published in their global newsletter : (https://www.wilddolphinproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-newsletter.pdf)
Our new intern, Jasper is has taken part in multiple workshops in Marathon, FL with both the Dolphin Research Center and Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responders, building hands on experience and connection with their dolphins! Arden had worked hard to expand our merchandise designs and our volunteer, Madeline has accompanied our research team on two field trips.
We are exited to launch our dates for the 2024 field season, beginning on May 13th and ending on August 30th. We will begin with a 14 day baseline data session, going out once a day to take conditional data, and of course scan for dolphins! We then have three 10 day observation blocks, to collect data on our resident population, where we will be going out three times a day, early, mid, and late, weather dependant. We are all looking forward to the beginning of field season and hope to see you out on the water!
Your dol-friend,
Jib
