December 2010 - The Dolphin Project


Newsletter
December 2010
P.O.Box 60753
Savannah, GA 31420
912-727-3177
TDP Board of Directors
PEACH HUBBARD
President, Edu Outreach, Training
LORI MUSKAT
Vice President, Data Entry
DONNA CALENDINE
Secretary
DON BENDER
Edu Outreach/Atlanta
GAYLA JONES
Edu Outreach/Coast
CHARLOTTE KEENOY
Adopt A Dolphin
GEORGE SCUORSO
CHERYL TILTON
Merchandise
VIP STAFF
MARGARET ANN BROWN
Atlanta Training
JIM BUCHANAN
Photo Coordinator
DONNISSA & DOUG BUSCH
Photo Coordinators
DR. TARA COX/Savannah St. U.
Science Advisor, Data Entry
DOLORES DYSON ENGLE
Social
HERB JOE
Membership, Survey Logistics
KARLA JOHNSON
Elections
FRAN LAPOLLA
Principal Investigator
MAUREEN MORALES
Publicity-Greater Atlanta
CHARLES POTTER/Smithsonian Inst.
Science Advisor
JOE POWERS
Special Events
All members in The Dolphin Project are
volunteers and receive no compensation
for their services
FROM THE HELM
Ahoy there Crew!
WOW! What a year!!!. We've accomplished a lot as
you will read within this newsletter and wonderful things are
yet to come in 2011.
First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere
gratitude to the Officers and Board members who served in
2010. Without their participation and dedication, TDP would
not exist. Special thanks go to our retiring Board members,
Herb Joe, Margaret Ann Brown, Joe Powers and Deanna
Taylor. I will miss your invaluable insight although I know I
can count on you for support when needed. Herb , Margaret
Ann and Joe will continue in their committee roles as Survey
Logistics, Atlanta Training and Event Volunteer Coordinator
respectively.
I deeply appreciate the Board members who are
continuing to serve for 2011: Lori Muskat, Cheryl Tilton and
Charlotte Keenoy. I thank you for your counsel over the past
year. Your guidance will help the new Board members
maneuver through all The Dolphin Project channels.
Welcome aboard, Donna Calendine, Don Bender,
Gayla Jones, and George Scuorzo. Thank you for
volunteering to help steer the 2011 course for TDP. Don and
Gayla are also helping with Education Outreach...Gayla on
the Coast and Don in the Atlanta area. Donna and George
have been (and will continue to be) volunteers extraordinaire
at our Outreach events and on surveys.
To all TDP members, I wish you the joys of the
holiday season. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas.
Stay safe—we’ll see you in 2011

TDP President
PS: Don’t forget to check our website for 2011 survey and
training dates. January is around the corner. Sign up and
bundle up for the January survey.
Comments? Ideas? Criticism? We’re open to it all:
info@thedolphinproject.org
2010 SURVEY HONOR ROLL
Many thanks to all our volunteers who participated in research surveys and especially to our Skippers!
We couldn’t conduct our research surveys with out you!!! (those names with an asterisk(*) volunteered more than once)
SKIPPERS
Tucker Brawner
Bob Calhoun*
Walter Coward*
CW Fetter*
Ron Goldfarb
Roy Hubbard
O.C. Lam
George Manners*
Don Nelson**
Joe Olive*
Joe Powers*
Frank Sitera*
Shawn Smith
Gary Udinsky
Andrew Zeigler
Jackie Huffman*
Herb Joe
Augusta Livingston*
Katie Olive
Kirby Pruett*
Michelle Riley
George Scuorzo*
Tom Workman
Judy Tanner
Mark Tanner*
Dave Valent
Laura Victore*
Bob Visconti
Sandy Workman*
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Donnissa Busch*
Linda Cooper
Linda Copeland*
Ron Goldfarb
Steven Graham
Joyce Heath
Peach Hubbard*
TEAM LEADERS
MaryAnn Jashinski
Linda Asher*
Gayla Jones*
Cliff Bedell
Darlyne Maranto*
Margaret Ann Brown Ellen Morales*
Joni Chastain
Lori Muskat*
Barbara Conway
Lori Norkus
Amanda Coward
Carolyn Rasche
Dolores Engle*
Richard Rasche
Peach Hubbard*
Amy Schneider
ASSISTANT TL
Linda Asher
Gayle Aitken*
Joyce Albrecht*
Don Bender*
Joe Bonds*
Maureen Bozovich*
Lois Crossley
Andra DiGuardi
Dolores Engle
Reed Engle
Pam Fowler
Rosemary Gillet*
Colleen Hardy
Suzon Hazard
Ken Hudlow
Roy Hubbard
Sandra Hudson
Charlotte Keenoy*
August Kroken
Tonya Lam
Mary Lattimore
Robert Livingston*
Jeri Norkus
Barbara Moorehead
Katie Olive
Carol Pacheco
Joanna Parker
Phyllis Preston
Katy Rasche
Karen Reinhard
Michelle Riley
Carol Rivers
George Scuorzo*
Terry Smith
Jay Solomon
Joan Solomon
Judy Tanner
Marilyn Valent
Nancy Van Gorp
Lindsy West*
Tom Workman*
Cheryl Yeoman*
Claire Zeigler
Extra Special Thanks go to Herb Joe—our Survey Logistics Coordinator for all his hard work
organizing the survey teams this year.
Skipper OC Lam, Photographer-Amy
Schneider, TL-Cliff Bedell
If we missed listing your name, please let us
know
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TL-Jackie Huffman, ATL-Nancy Van Gorp,
Photographer-Donnissa Busch, ATL-Lindsey West,
Skipper Frank Sitera
2010 SPECIAL EVENTS HONOR ROLL
Big hugs and thanks to our volunteers who help host TDP‘s booth at the following Outreach Events:
Savannah Earth Day, May Howard Science Fair, Thunderbolt Elementary Marine Science Day,
Thunderbolt Art & Seafood Festival, Bluffton Art & Seafood Festival, Grays Reef Film Festival, Waterside
News Party, Coastfest, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Science Day….
Don Bender,
Donna Calendine,
Dolores Engle,
Reed Engle,
Rosemary Gillet,
Roy Hubbard,
Kay Ingram
Gayla Jones,
Charlotte Keenoy,
Augusta Livingston,
Bob Livingston,
Joe Powers,
Richard Puljung,
George Scuorzo,
Cheryl Tilton,
Tricia Tucker,
Linda Wales,
Tracey Wallen-Furman
Cheryl Yeoman,
Extra Special Thanks go to Cheryl Tilton—our Merchandise Chairperson for coordinating the
merchandise sales for events, meetings and training and to Roy Hubbard to being the Equipment &
Transportation Chairperson.
May Howard Elementary School Science Night—
Cheryl Tilton
Bluffton Art & Seafood Festival: Cheryl Yeomans &
Linda Wales helping with the new TDP Coloring
Contest
Skidaway Oceanographic
Institute Science Day—
George Scuorzo
(FinBoard Master!) explains the
game.
DNR Coastfest—
Peach Hubbard hands out
dolphin literature to future
teachers
Savannah Earth Day
Festival— Dolores Engle
talks about our intracoastal
dolphins to booth visitors.
If we missed listing your
name, please let us know
3
2010 Education Outreach
Peach Hubbard and Gayla Jones facilitate the
Education Outreach Programs for schools, clubs
and organizations. In 2011 they spoke to Sun City
Fish & Hunt Club, Georgetown Girl Scouts, Sun
City Boat & RV Club, Sun City Snow Birds, Pooler
Rotary, Coventry Christian Academy, Sun City
Kayak Club, Skidaway Rotary, Sun City Lunch
Ladies, Richmond Hill High School and Johnson
High School.
2011 TDP CALENDAR
January
February 19 – Survey
23—Program:St. Anne’s Youth
March
19 – Survey
26—Training—Atlanta only
April
2—Training—Savannah only
13 – Program: Roswell Woman’s
Club
16— EVENT: Savannah Earth
Day
30 – Survey & Dinner
May
20 – EVENT: Thunderbolt Elem.
Marine Science Day
21 – Survey
June
4– Training—Savannah only
11—Training—Atlanta only
25 – Survey
July
23 – Survey
16– Training—Savannah only
August
20 – Survey
Skidaway Rotary—Peach Hubbard at dais.
Richmond Hill High School—Gayla Jones explaining power
point slides to students. (TDP‘s Dolphin skull display)
15—Training at AASU & REI
22 – Survey & Dinner
27—Program: Sunrise Rotary
September 24 – Survey
17– Training
October
1—EVENT: Coastfest
3 - Program: SunCIty Fish &
Hunt Club
15—Survey & Dinner
15—EVENT: SKIO Science Day
23—EVENT: Bluffton Festival
24—EVENT: Bluffton Festival
November 19 – Survey
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NOTE– that dates are subject to
change and new events will be added
so check the website
Survey Data
We are often asked: ―What happens to TDP research photos and data?‖ Kim Urian of Duke University is
the caretaker of MABDC (Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Catalog) which is one of two databases that
contains TDP data. The other database, also located at Duke
University, is OBIS-SEAMAP (Ocean Biogeographic Information System-Spatial Ecological Analysis of
Megavertebrate Populations). This database includes all the marine mammals and seaturles around the
world.
What have you learned about dolphins in the past twenty years?
KIM: We have learned a great deal about the movement and residency patterns of bottlenose
dolphins along the east coast. By identifying individual animals using photo-identification methods, we
are able to track dolphins over time and document their movement patterns. We have learned that the
population structure of dolphins in the southeastern U.S. is much more complicated than we thought 20
years ago. Our improved understanding is the result of information from long-term datasets
collaboration among different research efforts. In many areas, such as the estuarine waters of Georgia,
bottlenose dolphins are resident and have small home ranges. It is still not clear how much mixing
occurs between the resident dolphins that spend most of their time in the estuarine waters, with dolphins
that spend most of their time in the coastal water
How do you integrate your dolphin photos with those of other research
organizations? What are the results?
KIM: The Dolphin Project, Inc. has contributed to the Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin PhotoIdentification Catalog (MABDC) since 1997 and has provided images of bottlenose dolphins from their
photo-identification surveys in the coastal waters of Georgia. The MABDC is a co-operative research
effort designed to improve our understanding of the population biology of bottlenose dolphins along the
U.S. east coast. The Catalog relies on the efforts of independent researchers who contribute images
and associated data. The MABDC includes data and images from 20 researchers from New Jersey to
central Florida, and the photo-identification catalog maintained by the TDP is one of the longest
continuous efforts along the east coast, so their contribution has been especially important to our work.
How does your dolphin research compare with other dolphin studies along the eastern
U.S. coast and elsewhere in the world?
KIM: The MABDC relies on images and data contributed by independent field biologists, so the
quality of submissions varies from site to site. The contributions of the TDP research team have been of
excellent quality, reflecting their careful attention to detail and organization. In addition, the TDP
contributes their dolphin sighting data to the OBIS-SEAMAP Populations, (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/
datasets/detail/304) which is accessible to scientists, managers, and school children. TDP consistently
demonstrates a willingness to collaborate, and make their data available to help us understand the ‗big
picture‘, as well as conserve local dolphin populations.
What is the family structure of dolphins you've observed and photographed? Their
migration patterns?
KIM: Of TDP‘s dolphins included in the MABDC, some matches have been made to other research
groups and others were matched to a previous effort in Georgia, with sighting records of those
individuals going back as far as 1987. This supports the existence of long-term residents in The Dolphin
Project study area, and will allow us to identify female dolphins (by their repeated association with a
calf) and possible male pairs which has been documented in other populations of dolphins (Sarasota,
FL-Randy Well‘s work), by documenting a lack of association with a calf over the years and a high
association. The MABDC has grown since the previous submission of images from the TDP, so the
ongoing systematic comparisons among sites will continue to provide more detailed information on the
movement and residency patterns of dolphins in Georgia.
5
SURVEYS
We‘ve been listening and reading your survey evaluations. It seems that while the training is more than
adequate for survey participation, some team members forget - some sooner, some later— about
various details of the survey methodology. We strongly encourage those crew members who have not
been to training within the last five years to do so in order to be up-to-date with the changes in the new
survey formats. Sometimes there is a lapse of months between surveys and crew members forget how to
fill out the paperwork. To help relieve this problem, we will be putting together a survey handbook for all
crew members as a reminder. We hope to have this manual ready early next year for all survey crew
members.
In the meantime, here are a few reminders:
EVENT SHEET… Prior to the first event/sighting, the Team Leader completes the top portion with crew
member details, date, zone, etc. The photographer takes a picture of this Event Sheet (top portion only)
which would be photograph #1 (or might be #001 or #0001 depending on the camera). This action
documents on film which survey is being photographed/documented.
When dolphin(s) are sighted—that becomes Event #1 which is noted at the top right corner of the Event
sheet in the ‘Event#’ box.
If NO pictures are taken of the dolphin(s), the Event sheet is completed with the data available. In this
case, a photograph will be taken of the completed Event Sheet and the frame number of the Event sheet
would be #2. This is noted on the bottom of the sheet in the ‗Event Sheet#’ box and then the photograph
is taken.
If pictures of dolphin(s) ARE taken, the Event sheet is completed with the data available and the number
of the frames used are noted at the bottom of the page (IE: #2-15). It is obvious that the next photograph
that will be taken will be of the entire Event sheet, so enter ‗16‘ in the ‗Event Sheet#’ box at the bottom
of the page. The Sighting/Event number does not go here - it is entered at the top/right of the Event
Sheet. The next step is for the photographer to take a picture of the entire Event Sheet. Please make
sure the photograph is clear and readable. If it is not, take another photo.
Photographs of the Event Sheet are taken only AFTER each dolphin sighting/Event
All the information must be entered at the top of each Event Sheet used on a survey. Please use thinline
markers. Pen ink is often hard to read.
Latitudes and Longitudes MUST be entered on the Event Sheet. We won‘t know where you saw the
dolphins if that information is not recorded. Charting by Team Leaders on surveys is no longer used.
PHOTOGRAPHERS… lease zero out your camera if possible so that the first picture used on a dolphin
survey will be #1 (or #001 or #0001). If for some reason this is not possible, please make sure your
numbers are at least in an ascending order.
NEW POLICY FOR PHOTOGRAPHS ON TDP SURVEYS.
We can no longer permit candid personal photographs by the various survey crew members.
The only photographs taken on a TDP survey will be taken by the designated TDP
photographer (*unless permission is given by TDP Board for documentary, promotional or
science purposes). Regrettably we must enforce this new regulation due to the potential for
commercialization and internet exploitation of TDP research photographs which may
jeopardize our NMFS/NOAA permit. ALL* photographs taken on TDP Research Surveys are
the property of The Dolphin Project. TDP will permit the use of personal photographs taken
when not ‘ON EFFORT’ - IE: on the dock, at lunch and when not in the survey zone.
6
7
2011 TDP Officers and Board of Directors
PEACH HUBBARD—President / Coast Edu Outreach &
Training…. I grew up on Lake Michigan (Chicago), then spent 24 years in
Roswell GA looking for water and raising 2 daughters. I married Savannian,
Captain Hub, moved to the coast 9 years ago and found water! We both
‗immersed‘ ourselves in coastal ecology as UGA Master Coastal Naturalists,
Eco-tour Charter Operators (SaltyDawg Adventures.com) & The Dolphin
Project. I‘m a retired graphic artist and corporate executive administrator. I
love my family, friends, puppies, boating, shrimping, crabbing, gardening,
photography, sculpting and painting ...in my spare time (HAH!)
DR. LORI MUSKAT—Vice President / Data Entry….
I am an "ex-nuyawka" who moved to Atlanta ten years ago. I
work as a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Argosy University,
Atlanta Campus and I also have a small private psychology
practice. I adore my two Scotties, Gracie and Reba--although
they misbehave constantly and make me look like a lousy
psychologist. In addition to dolphins, my passions are nature,
photography, writing and songwriting.
DONNA CALENDINE—Secretary…. I‘m originally from
Ohio. Since retiring from the Department of Defense over ten
years ago, I‘ve lived in South Carolina, making Sun City my
home. In addition to The Dolphin Project, I volunteer for
Hos-Pets, visiting nursing homes in the area every month with
my rescued Basset Hound, Chilli. My hobbies include
shrimping, crabbing, traveling, camping and
lots of other fun activities.
DON BENDER—Board Member/ Atlanta Edu
Outreach….
I grew up on a farm in Greenwood, Delaware. After college I
taught elementary school for a year in Virginia and then taught
3 more years of junior high and high school history in Atlanta.
After getting my masters degree in adult education, I taught
adults part time in both GED preparation and others in basic
literacy. During this same time I started the Little Five Points
Pub in Atlanta and operated it for 10 years. After selling the
Pub, in 1990 I became a commercial property real estate
developer in several intown Atlanta neighborhoods beginning
retirement in 2008. I began my retirement my moving to Tybee
with my wife Judy where we lived for 2 years before moving
back to Atlanta. It was at that time that I became involved in
The Dolphin Project as a Team Leader.
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2011 TDP Officers and Board of Directors
GAYLA JONES -Board Member/ Coast Edu Outreach….
I was born in Rochester, New Hampshire and moved to Central Florida
in 1975, where I raised two children, Eric now 24 and Jenna 22.
I worked with Great West Retirement Services for 11 years as a Sr.
Account Executive and sold, serviced and administered define
contribution plans to the government market. I moved to Richmond Hill
GA with my husband Tim and two dogs Solo & Lewey in 2006. I serve
as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with the Atlantic Area CASA,
volunteer as a photographer and Education Outreach facilitator with
TDP and am also active with St. Anne‘s Youth Group.
CHERYL TILTON—Board Member/Merchandise
Chairperson….Originally from Massachusetts, I was a
design/event professional in Atlanta before moving to
Savannah with my husband Ted in 2003. I enjoy walking on the
beach, gardening and reading. Moving to the Georgia coast,
piqued an interest in beach ecology and marine biology which
led to volunteer efforts with the Tybee Island Sea Turtle Project
and The Dolphin Project. These are now the two most
important organizations in my retired, active life.
< Cheryl Excavating turtle eggs on Tybee.
CHARLOTTE KEENOY—Board Member/ Adopt-A-Dolphin….
I‘m originally from New Jersey where I earned degrees in Education and
Clinical Medical Technology and did graduate work in Industrial/
Organizational Psychology. I lived in Smyrna GA and Lakeland FL before
moving to Savannah 5+ years ago. I‘m married with 3 children, 6
grandchildren and a very Precious (that‘s her name) Tuxedo cat. I volunteer
for TDP (14+ years), CleanCoast and AdoptAWetland (MAREX). I‘m active in
my church as an ordained Elder, VP of the Woman‘s organization, circle coleader and member of the Worship/Music committee. I‘m employed by
Hospice Savannah as a Volunteer Services Coordinator at Hospice House.
I‘m also a member of the Council of Volunteer Administrators. I enjoy walking
on the beach, being in/on the water, reading and observing people.
GEORGE SCUORZO—Board Member….I‘m
from New Jersey too. I graduated from Seton Hall
University and served in the U.S. Marines. After 40 years
with Village Supermarkets, I retired as a District Manager.
After moving to Richmond Hill, GA, with my wife, I
became a UGA Master Gardener, a TDP Team Leader
and joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. I enjoy cooking
and baking my specialty—cheese cake. I also enjoy
reading, bike riding and weight training ( it helps with the
cheese cake!) Staying busy, I drive a school bus for the
Bryan County School District.
9
< George is Master of the Fin-Match Game
The Dolphins of Roatan Island
by Penn Clarke
I was fortunate to spend a week in January 2010 with Kathleen
Dudzinski, Wu-Jung Lee and 24 bottlenose dolphins at Bailey‘s Key,
the dolphins‘ private reserve in the waters off Roatan Island, Honduras.
Kathleen Dudzinski has been filming and recording these 24
bottlenose dolphins for the last eight years. Wu-Jung Lee of Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution is getting her PhD at MIT exploring the
use of broadband sonar signals by both dolphins & humans. Kathleen‘s
website www.dolphincommunicationproject.org can show you a daily
detailed report with photographs of our work in January. In other parts
of the world she is also studying 2 other groups of bottlenose dolphins
in the wild as well as one other group in captivity.
Bailey‘s Key has a 2 acre holding area with netting so that big
fish and tidal current can easily move through. It‘s up to 15 feet deep
with live coral, sea grass and a sandy beach for the group of 24 males,
females & 2nd generation calves. Separate from Bailey‘s Key is
Anthony's Key with resort rooms over the water on stilts and Roatan
Island with the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, Roatan Museum,
dining rooms and dive shop.
Each morning at 5:30 the 3 of us would meet outside our individual bungalows that were over the water &
take the water-taxi, a 20‘ open boat with a 15 HP engine, from Anthony‘s Key to Bailey‘s Key.
Kathleen got in the water with her MVA, a unique, self-designed film camera including 4 attached
hydrophones while Wu-Jung & I would walk the narrow cat walks around the 2 acre pen. We would write all the
surface observations on a form similar to what we use during The Dolphin Project surveys. By the end of the week,
we could identify most of the 24 dolphins by sight.
We water-taxied back to Anthony‘s Key for Kathleen to shower off the salt water before a water-taxi on to
Roatan Island to enjoy a large breakfast. A walk to the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences allowed us to use their
large screen to project the film with sounds from this morning. It takes on average 30 hours to indentify all the
dolphins and their behavior with sounds from each 1 hour filming session.
Kathleen & I assisted Wu-Jung testing all of
her expensive equipment. We strapped the DTag, a
recording device that captures the outgoing dolphin
clicks & their returning echoes, onto Kathleen‘s MVA
camera for 2.5 hours of filming. Wu-Jung recorded a
double whistle from a Bottlenose dolphin that had
never been proven before. The DTag when attached to
the camera records only the incoming sounds. WuJung hopes to return during the summer to continue
this work.
This wonderful opportunity was only my
second time working with Bottlenose dolphins in
captivity. The first time was at the University of Hawaii
for a month in 1987 where they had taught the dolphins
to
read
sign
language.
Please
go
to
www.dolphinrnr.com for more about Penn Clarke‘s
experiences with dolphins.
Penn Clarke is an ‘original’ member of The Dolphin Project
and has been an active participant over the past 21 years.
My Stance on Captive Dolphins – Penn Clarke
I am opposed to holding dolphins against their free will. In my talk at The Dolphin Project dinner on Oct. 16,
2010, I should have prefaced the concluding video with this background information. The video tribute was for
Sandra Wilson who came into my life 6 years ago when I began dating her sister Sharron. In 1986 Sandra was in an
automobile accident that left her a quadriplegic. We talked many times about her lifelong dream to swim with
dolphins, something not possible for her in the wild. In fact, she was unable to even be near dolphins in the wild
volunteering on boats like so many TDP members can. I finally broke down & made it happen for her in July 2010 at
a center in the Keys. I didn‘t swim with the dolphins, but watched from the other side of the holding pen for any
behavior changes. Sometimes dolphins get distracted from the trainer and swim off to be with other dolphins. They
can injure the person unintentionally as they swim off. Sadly just 10 days before the dinner Sandra was killed in a 2nd
auto accident and I decided to share what this special experience with dolphins had meant to my very close friend
and ―family member‖. This does not change my opposition to dolphins in captivity.
Special Gifts...
The Dolphin Project has been most fortunate
this year to receive donations from some very
special folks. ―Ask and ye ‗might‘ receive‖…
TDP was in need of a generator to use at
outdoor events where electricity was not
available or expensive. Mickey Youmans,
nephew of Roy Hubbard, graciously loaned us
his Honda commercial generator on several
occasions, but since he used it for his film company, it
could not be a guaranteed loaner. Peach Hubbard wrote to
Scott Conner, the new President of American Honda
Power Equipment Company located in Alpharetta GA,
about TDP‘s dilemma. Fingers were crossed as the letter
was posted. A couple weeks later a Honda generator
appeared at her door! It has already been used at several
events, including Skidaway Oceanographic Institute of
Oceanography Science Day and The Bluffton Art &
Seafood Festival where it was shared with the Festival
committee for their microphone. It‘s relatively lightweight
and whisper-quiet.
THANK YOU Scott Conner & HONDA!!!!
Top Picture: Cheryl Tilton at SKIO Science Day. Honda Generator on
the lower left.
Above Picture: Reed & Dolores Engle at Bluffton Art & Seafood Festival
Notice that in the Bluffton Festival picture (above/left) that the TDP Power point is being shown on a small
laptop rather than on our usual 20‖ monitor (seen in the SKIO Science Day photo above right). Sadly the
monitor died on the second day of the Bluffton Festival, greatly limiting TDP‘s Edu-Outreach efforts.
Coming to our rescue is TDP member, Skipper Joe Powers who has generously donated a 32‖ Panasonic
LCD-TV to use for our Outreach Events. This new screen will really add to our professional –looking
display. The little computer monitor screen had viewing problems—glare and sunlight were big issues. The
new Panasonic LCD/TV will accommodate a small crowd without the glare and light problems.
BIG HUGS TO JOE—THANK YOU!!!
TDP has also just received a gracious donation from long-time member Joni Chastain which will be
matched by her employer, ASPECT. Those of you with matching gift programs at work—please think of
The Dolphin Project. In this tight economy grants are impossible to achieve. Every little bit helps to further
our research and education programs. THANK YOU JONI & ASPECT!!!
Be sure to always check TDP website for upcoming dates for
surveys, training and special events: www.thedolphinproject.com.
Questions? info@thedolphinproject.com
11
2010 Survey Data...
After a quick review of the 2010 survey data, we estimate that over 835* dolphins were sighted in
2010 by The Dolphin Project research survey crews. This number included 516* adults, 156* subadults, 114* juveniles, 44* calves and 5* neonates.
(*) These numbers are estimated due to subjective observations as to dolphin size and abundance.
Some of the 2010 pictures still need to be reviewed and edited. Doug and Donnissa Busch will be
receiving these surveys shortly. Then Dr. Tara Cox (Sav. St. U) and Dr. Lori Muskat (Argosy U.),
with the help of their students, will be processing this data for the MABDC and OBIS-SEAMAP
databases (see page 5). Dr. Cox‘s Marine biology students at Savannah State University will be
using some of our data for their research projects and thesis studies. TDP has already been listed
as research advisor or co-author on several marine science papers and reports.
We always need volunteers to help with our research.—especially skippers. Without skippers, we‘re
literally stuck on shore— can‘t count dolphins there.
Don‘t forget that all expenses for the Dolphin project volunteer opportunities are tax deductable.
Travel, lodging, boat fuel, boat lift fees, etc.
ATTENTION TEAM LEADERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Please do NOT use any SLIDE film for surveys. Processing it has become cost prohibitive for TDP.
TDP WISH LIST
COAST PUBLICITY CHAIRPERSON: Publicity contact are loaded into a GMAIL account.
Notices need to be sent out to announce dates for training and special events.
TREASURER: Needs to know Quickbooks.
GRANT WRITER: TDP needs funding for research and education programs.
LAPTOPS & SOFTWARE: for Education Outreach
WEBSITE MANAGER: the site is currently set up with WYSIWYG and hosted by IXwebhosting
FUNDRAISING CHAIRPERSON & COMMITTEE: got ideas?
SPONSOR for Coloring Contest: an individual or business to pay for crayons and copies of
coloring pages for Education Outreach at Events and School Programs.
SPONSOR for South Carolina Bottlenose Dolphin Activity Book: We have the SC version
of our Georgia book ready for print. These books can be sold as a fundraiser, used as prizes,
etc.
SURVEY LOGISTICS COORDINATOR(S): Needs to have knowledge of Microsoft Access.
Coordinate the survey teams (Herb will be retiring from this position in 2011). Duties could be
shared by two or more people.
MERCHANDISE ASSISTANT: Help setup merchandise display at training, special events,
TDP dinners, etc; take inventory
TRAINING ASSISTANT(S): Help with equipment setup; brochure and training form displays;
handle membership applications and survey registrations; learn the training program
CONTACT: info@thedolphinproject.org
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