Dolphin Gazette -May 2010 - Dolphin Communication Project

VOLUME 14
ukiller dolhins . . . . . . . . .
2010
8
u Nature photography tips u Bimini
ISSUE 2
update . . . . . . . . . .
The Dolphin
gazette
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3
N E W S L E T T E R F O R T H E D O L P H I N C O M M U N I C AT I O N P R O J E C T
The Dolphin Communication Project (DCP) is focused on the dual goals of scientific
research and education.
Happy Summer!
I fully believe that as we have fun,
time passes more quickly! It seems
like yesterday we were sharing
updates with our data analysis and
conference programs. Summer is upon
us, weather-wise. Our research and
educational programs from Bimini are
in full swing. Check out the field
reports to stay up-to-date. Our third
DRT travel program brings 13 junior
high school students to Bimini in June.
And, DCP is offering two more ecotours this year - to Bimini in May
and to Roatan in September. Exciting
stuff! We are also getting more of our
research results published; you can
read the abstract from our most recent
paper, and we have several more
manuscripts on the drafting table. Our
spring/summer newsletter is loaded
with news and tips. Thank you for
your continued support! As a bit of
foreshadowing, DCP plans to revamp
out member program and launch it late
this summer. Stay tuned for exciting
happenings with DCP!
Cheers,
Kathleen
In this issue
Bimini Update RIMS
Ecotour 2010 | Killer
Dolphins
|
Nature
P h o t o g r a p h y Ti p s
|
Whales in Ireland |
DCP Announcements
The DolphinGazette is printed on 100% recycled paper!
Mailing Address
Dolphin Communication Project
P.O. Box 711
Old Mystic, CT 06372-0711
USA
Thank you to DCP
Volunteers!!
DCP would like to thank Binti Ackley and
Marliese Friedman for all their help this
winter. Without your effort and assistance,
DCP’s office could not run so smoothly.
You do a great job processing data and
helping to keep things organized. Well
done!
Internships
If you are interested in interning with
DCP during a fall or summer semester,
more information is available on our
website. Please note, most internships are
office-based and do NOT include field
work. Check out the web site or contact
us at info@dcpmail.org.
What to do with a dead whale in Medieval Ireland
Submitted by Ranke de Vries, PhD | Utrecht University
I
f you want to discover things about everyday life in
medieval Ireland, there are two places you should look:
the law texts and the annals. Annals are short notes about
important events that occurred during any given year.
Often, the entries refer to abnormal weather conditions
(like red moons, snow and freezing weather – which is very
uncommon in Ireland because of its sea climate), battles, and
deaths of saints or kings. But on a few occasions, we find
references to marine mammals that had washed up on shore.
W
e know that whales lived (and indeed still live) in the
seas around Ireland because the annals tell us of whale
strandings. This did not seem to happen that often because
the annals only record things that are special or uncommon;
if whales beached all the time, it would probably not be
mentioned (you will not find entries in the Irish annals that
say things like ‘April 25, 847. It rained today.’).
I
n the Middle Ages, Irish people were actually allowed to
eat the meat of a beached whale – unless decomposition
had already set in. It seems that the Irish population was
very happy when a whale beached, at least judged from an
entry in the Annals of Connacht for the year 1246, where it
is stated that a stranded whale ‘…brought great relief and
joy to the (people of the) countryside’. Of course, the reason
they were so happy was that they could eat the whale meat
and not starve to death.
all the birds would get sick and die. If he vomited on land, humans
and cattle would not live to see the end of the year. The whale did
this, presumably, until it died (although the text does not tell us this
specifically).
T
he other two references are a little more benign. The next story
involves a whale that has three gold teeth – I wonder who his
dentist was! Here is the translation of the relevant passages (I have
reworked it a little to make the text a little easier to understand):
‘The sea cast ashore a whale in…the province of Ulster (roughly
Northern Ireland). Every one in the neighborhood went to see it for
its wondrousness. When it was slaughtered, three golden teeth were
found in its head, each of which weighed fifty ounces. Fiachna, the
king of Ulster, and Eochaidh son of Breasal, chief of the clan Uí
Eachach Iveagh, sent one of these teeth to (the monastery of) Bangor
(in Northern Ireland), where it remained for a long time on the altar,
to be seen by all in general.’ (Annals of the four masters, 739 C.E.)
T
he final legend that I will mention here, I happen to like very
much. This particular tale explains the origin of the harp as a
musical instrument. The tale becomes even more special if you know
how important the harp is in Ireland (it even has become somewhat
of a national symbol for Ireland and things Irish in general). In any
case, it is nice to remember that if it had not been for a whale, the
harp might never even have been invented.
T
ot only the meat of the whale was used. Baleen was used
in the making of saddles, according to some legal texts;
blubber could be used for candles. And, of course, there is
ambergris. Ambergris was a very expensive commodity in
all of medieval Europe. It is secreted from the intestinal tract
of sperm whales and is then coughed up and spit out, kind of
like a fur ball. It drifts around on the ocean before washing
up on shore, where you can still sometimes find it.
here are a number of versions of this legend, but the part about
the harp is basically the same. I will give you one version of the
story. A woman named Canola (no relation to the oil) or Canolach
had an argument with her husband in the middle of the night. She
got up and went outside to take a walk. During her walk, she heard
beautiful music. She sat down to listen to it and fell asleep. When
she woke the next morning, she realized that the music was caused
by the wind blowing through partially rotted sinew still attached to
a whale skeleton. Canola then designed the first harp based on the
sinew and the skeleton (in some versions of the tale, the sinew is
actually used as the string).
A
S
N
mbergris was often used in expensive perfumes, because
it made the smell of the perfume last a long time.
Nowadays, ambergris has mostly been replaced by synthetic
materials, but there are still some perfumes that supposedly
have ambergris in it, like Hermes Eau de merveilles and
Creed. But I digress; back to medieval Ireland.
o this summer, if you don’t know where to go on vacation, you
could always go to the beach; who knows - you could find some
ambergris.
N
ow the medieval Irish would not be the medieval Irish if
they did not also possess some more fanciful references
or stories regarding whales. I have selected three of them for
you.
Fergus Kelly, Early Irish law (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced
Studies 1988)
T
A different version of the harp legend can be found in Eugene
O’Curry’s On the manners and customs of the ancient Irish (London
1873); the tale of Rossualt the whale can be found in Whitley
Stokes’s article ‘The Bodleian dinnshenchas’, in Folklore 3/4
(1892), p. 507.
he first reference to a strange whale can be found in
the tale of how the place Mag Muirisc, ‘the Plain of
Muiresc,’ got its name. It tells us that there was a huge
whale called Rossualt. He was cast ashore and just lay there.
But each year he would vomit, and this was bad news for
everyone involved. If he vomited in the ocean, boats would
sink and fish would die that year. If he vomited into the sky,
Literature:
Fergus Kelly, Early Irish farming (Dublin: Dublin Institute for
Advanced Studies 1997)
2
Ready, Set....BIMINI
Submitted by Kelly Melillo Sweeting
Bimini Research Manager
Although I am now at our Bimini, The Bahamas field
site year-round, the summer remains our busiest time
of year. In Bimini, we collect video, acoustic and
photographic data on the wild Atlantic spotted and
bottlenose dolphins in the area. Our data collection at
this site has been on-going since 2001 and we hope
it continues well into the future! Two local dolphinswim boat operators will again graciously donate boat
space to DCP researchers. Bill & Nowdla Keefe’s Wild
Dolphin Adventures (www.WildDolphins.com) and Al
Sweeting, Jr. (www.BiminiAdventures.com) offer trips
geared to tourists throughout the summer. We look
forward to talking with all their guests in the coming
months. Our research would not be possible without
their support!
Each winter, Bimini gets a different sort of tourist
influx - Pelicans! Although we’re dolphin researchers, we love to watch these magnificent birds who
hang out at local marinas. They’re no fools; they
know the wait won’t be long before fishermen come
to clean their catches and toss the birds their scraps!
By April, Bimini has said goodbye to most of the
pelicans until next fall.
On 23 April 2010, DCP researcher Kelly Melillo Sweeting observed a group of
10 adult Atlantic spotted dolphins while aboard Bill & Nowdla Keefe’s boat. It
was a great afternoon, watching this group!
Bimini Nature Trail and more.
There’s even more! DCP is excited to continue our summer
internship program and in July I’ll be joined by this year’s
interns. The two students will have spent 6 weeks training
and assisting Kathleen at our Connecticut office. In Bimini,
they will gain hands-on research experience while assisting
in all facets of field work, from photo-ID to interactions with
tourists.
As with previous seasons, you can stay up to date with all the
Bimini action by following our field reports, posted regularly
to www.dolphincommunicationproject.org. New this year,
you can also follow DCP at Twitter (dolphincommu) and on
This season kicks off with our 2010 Field Course in Facebook. Not only does DCP have its own page, but each of
Cetacean Ecology. Beginning 1 May, students and the Adopt-A-Dolphins does too! Be sure to “Like” us today!
their professor from the University of New Brunswick
will spend a week learning about dolphin behavior
and communication, gathering data on dolphin
surveys, completing photo-identification matching and
Even if you don’t swim, you
discussing various topics, including eco-tourism.
can visit one of Bimini’s
-Kel
shipwrecks! In the late 1990s,
Bimini was in the path of a late
season hurricane. While the
Gallant Lady was anchored off
shore, the engines failed and
the anchors did not hold. The
US Coast Guard rescued the
crew as the freight boat rammed
into shore. Don’t worry - the
story goes that the cat that was
onboard carefully timed the
swells, jumped off the ship
onto the beach and ran up the
coastline!
Mid-May means the start to our eco-tour season. This
year’s DCP Bimini Eco-tour group will be small, but
I’m sure they will be filled with enthusiasm. For nearly
a week, participants will join me each afternoon in
search of wild Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins.
They will assist in data collection, photo-ID matching
and morning lectures and discussions.We look forward
to long encounters with many dolphins !
June brings a different travel component from DCP’s
Dolphin Research Trainee (DRT) program. Thirteen
DRTs, with their chaperones, will complete dolphin
surveys, work on photo-identification and explore all
Bimini has to offer: mangroves, Bimini Museum, South
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Are you following our field reports?
DCP researchers post field reports to the DCP website during research trips to RIMS,
Bimini, Dolphin Encounters and Japan. You can follow these field reports via our
twitter page at twitter.com/dolphincommu or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/
dolphincommunicationproject or by subscribing via RSS (check out the DCP website for
details). Just to give you a taste of what you might be missing, here are two of Kelly’s
latest field reports from Bimini.
Well, hello adult spotted dolphins...
Bimini 2010 | Written by kelly | Saturday, 24 April 2010 16:59
Friday’s dolphin trip was filled with enthusiastic passengers. We left the
harbor shortly before 1600 with Bill & Nowdla Keefe. This winter has
been particularly windy, so we were eager to be on the boat in calm
seas! Our first sighting was of 3 – 4 bottlenose dolphins. The group was
traveling and showed no interest in the boat. So, after a quick glimpse,
we continued in search of more dolphins. We were not disappointed as
only minutes later there was a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins! At
first there were 7 adult dolphins and they were soon joined by a large
bottlenose dolphin. We were able to get a quick glimpse of the group
underwater, but they were more interested in themselves than us!
We continued to enjoy the show from the boat as the group size grew
to ten animals – all adults who were involved in a busy mating ball.
Un-named ID#24 was in the group, and I suspect Lumpy (#17) was
there too. The passengers got another underwater look while I stayed
aboard the boat for surface photographs – like this one here!
We’re gearing up for the busy dolphin trip season, so field reports will
be coming through more regularly!
Until then,
DCP is offering a second chance
this year to join a our eco-tour
to our Roatan, Honduras field
site. Participants will stay at
Anthony’s Key Resort and have
daily opportunities to assist DCP
Director, Kathleen Dudzinski,
with data collection on the
resident bottlenose dolphins.
There is always plenty of time
for fun too – two dolphin swims
and one dolphin encounter are
reserved for each participant,
who also gain entry to Bailey’s
Key Wildlife Sanctuary and
have opportunities to horseback
ride, kayak, hike, SCUBA dive
and snorkel. Three meals per
day are included in the package.
Bottled water, alcohol and soda
are available for a small fee.
Airfare and departure taxes are
not included.
Arrival: September 25, 2010
Departure: October 2, 2010
Cost: $1,765 per person, double
occupancy
Kel
A spring dolphin trip
Bimini 2010 | Written by kelly | Sunday, 04 April 2010 02:53
I was very excited to head out on Saturday’s dolphin trip with Nowdla
Keefe as it had been quite awhile since I’d been out. It was a bit windier
than the forecast had called for, but the boat was full of guests eager
to see dolphins. The harbor was very busy because of Easter weekend
and we were soon headed
Princessto the “dolphin grounds.” As often happens,
the guests were beginning to lose hope and then....there were dolphins!
At first we saw 2 adult Atlantic spotted dolphins. Because of the swells
I was unable to identify them, but one may have been Buster (#04).
The two were not interacting with each other very much and had little
interest in us humans. So, we decided to look for more dolphins. We
were not disappointed...
Soon we were watching 4 different spotted dolphins – two adults
(including Stefran #82) and two calves. They were surfing the swells
and the bow, and gave everyone a good look once the passengers were
in the water. The group grew to at least 10 animals, including Lil’
Jess (#35) and there appeared to be some mating behavior, which
distracted the dolphins from us. But, everyone had a good time! We
weren’t done with dolphins yet though. Back on the boat we continued
to watch the dolphins and suddenly a single bottlenose dolphin passed
through! It was great to show the guests the difference between the
two species commonly found off Bimini. We got a quick glimpse of two
more spotted dolphins on the way home....
As summer approaches, we’ll have many more “dolphin trips” here at
our Bimini, Bahamas field site. So, be sure to stay tuned!
Cheers,
Kel
RIMS Eco-Tour:
A Second Chance
for 2010!
4
You can learn more about our
research at the Roatan Institute
for Marine Sciences (RIMS) by
reading past field reports online
and watching the videos on the
eco-tour page of our website:
http://tinyurl.com/RIMSecotour
Interested in booking? Contact
Bill Sperling at bsperling@
idyllwild.com.
Nature photography 101
Tips from professional photographer John Anderson
S
till photography is one of my favorite pastimes!
Over many years I have learned to perceive light
as a palate of color and the natural world as sort of
a canvas that I can manipulate with that light. True
white light is a multi-spectrum combination of all
colors of light available in the rainbow. Take one away
and the color shifts. This may be a difficult concept to
grasp at first but have you ever tried to snap a photo in
a room lit with indoor lamps and it came out orange?
………. Or you go outdoors in a shadow and the photo
looks blue? This is because of the different color
of light reaching your film or digital sensor. Most
new cameras today can auto
balance for the available
light with little thought from
you, the photographer.
Focus is also important!
Often times auto focus is
fooled in low light situations
or in water. So, be prepared
to take two or three photos to
make sure you get the shot.
I could write volumes about
technical methods and ways
to shoot photos but it’s best
just to have a look at the list below and take it for what
it is … a list of photo tips. The best advice I can give
is to treat the ART of photography as an adventure and
enjoy the journey … don’t forget to think about what
you saw! The mind’s eye is very powerful!
The following story is an excerpt from a previous
experience I wrote about.
“As I enter the water with a splash, I always expect
a chill from first water contact but none ever comes:
the summertime water temperature averages 85°F.
My usual stomach butterflies, however, intensify
when I hear the first clicks, whistles and squeals of the
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dolphins. They seem as inquisitive about us as we
are about them and often approach us at what seems
like mach-2 only to turn away at the last minute
with a huge smile that says “Scared ya, didn’t I”.
I can only wonder what they’re thinking; perhaps
they wonder what such an ungainly, split-finned
creature is doing, thrashing around in their home.
With a lot of effort and a little practice, I can swim
in short bursts of speed underwater. And, while
nothing compared to them, they would take the
cue and race by as if to say “Come on, let’s play.”
Their behavior, their speedy circles around me, is
not unlike my beagle, Umi,
saying “let’s play” as she
runs circles around me on
beach walks.
. Orientation didn’t matter
… up, down, on my back,
they were there, as long as
I kept moving. They might
leave momentarily to go
check out something in the
sand or chase each other
but before long my spotted
pals would be back and up
to their old tricks of tag and
keep-away. The dolphins
propel themselves through the water effortlessly
and at times with great speed, time lost all meaning
to me. I was in another world, another realm.
Before I knew it, I was in the water for 25 min.
and the dolphins had disappeared just as quickly
and mysteriously as they had appeared. After a
swim like this, I take a minute or two for “floating
reflection” (and to catch my breath) before heading
back to the boat. “Did I remember to use my
camera, the purpose of my visit!?” As I handed
my camera to one of the crew on deck and pulled
myself up the swim step I heard a voice ask me
“What did you see?”
John’s 7 tips to great photographs
It’s All About The Light
This is the single most important thought! Which way are the shadows falling? It’s generally
best to shoot with the sun behind you. How is the light affecting your subject? What kind of
light do you have available? If it’s overcast, keep the sky out of your pictures as much as possible. When the day is beautiful, make the most of it. If your camera allows for the use of
filters, use a polarizer. This will help to create deep saturated colors. If your subject has deep
shadows falling on it, use your fill flash.
Move in Close
When you spot a subject, take the shot, then move in closer for a better shot. Having your
subject almost fill the frame helps your viewer understand and appreciate your photo. It is a
good idea to be respectful and keep your distance from wild animals. Balance boldness with
consideration and wisdom.
Be Quick
It is a guarantee that your subject will swim away, stop smiling or change behaviors, once you
point the camera at it; shoot one frame right away.
Focus, Focus, Focus!
All the other stuff means nothing if your picture is out of focus. Make sure your subject is in
focus. This is crucial!!
Compose Your Shot Carefully
Make an effort to keep it balanced and beautiful, keep the horizon level. Think about what you
are really interested in and crop out distracting elements that detract from the photo. Place your
subject where you think it most belongs rather than wherever it happens to fall in the photo.
Keep Your Camera Setting Simple
While you may be tempted to use all the cool settings in your shiny new camera, you will probably get the best results if you do not try to use them all the time and instead learn a simple set
up that works best for you in most situations.
Think!
Use your brain! Where is the light? Am I close enough or am I to close? Is the composition
what I want? Am I in focus? Do not allow yourself to fumble with the technology. With wildlife, again …. THINK!! Am I in Danger? Adopt a low-impact approach so you disturb the
animals as little as possible and remain safe.
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Adopt a Wild Dolphin
www.adoptawilddolphin.com
What’s in your
Adoption Kit?
Dolphins currently up
for adoption
Adopting a wild
dolphin with DCP
helps to fund:
The purchase of new research equipment
(e.g., cameras, underwater microphones)
Conservation and education programs on
Bimini, in the US and around the world
Publication and dissemination of
DCP’s research results to the scientific
community and the general public
An official adoption certificate
Maintenance of the DCP website, field
reports, and our podcast The Dolphin Pod
Photograph of your adopted dolphin
Details on how to download dolphin
vocalizations from the Bimini adopt-adolphins as a ringtone or audio file
Classroom education programs for
school-aged children including DCP
Youth Program, Dolphin Research
Trainee, Classroom Connections
DVD containing video of the Bimini
dolphins
?
Biography of your adopted dolphin
Volunteer, ecotour and internship
opportunities for the public
Welcome letter and registration info
Name one of the Bimini
dolphins and we’ll add
your dolphin to this list!
See page 5 for details.
Information Booklet with Atlantic spotted
dolphin fact sheet and info about the
Dolphin Communication Project
Dolphin trading card sample
Holiday gift ideas
www.cafepress.com/holidaydolphin
Adopt-a-wild-dolphin t-shirts
tinyurl.com/ylfx44v
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Understanding dolphin names: is there a porpoise?
A killer whale is a dolphin???
porpoise, which you might do, even though it is actually a
blackfish or officially a dolphin.
Did you know that a killer whale, otherwise known as an
orca, is actually a dolphin? Orcas are in fact the largest
What’s a whale then?
dolphin species in the world today. So, why are they
called whales and not killer dolphins? Which, by the
But let us return to the first question: what is a whale?
way, sounds downright terrifying? Well, that is a good
Well according to official scientific terminology, there
question, and there is no easy answer. So instead of an
is no such thing as a whale at all. Science does not
easy answer, here is a complicated one: There are around
formally use the standalone word ‘whale’ to refer to any
35 species of oceanic dolphin. All of these species can
of the animals found in the scientific order cetacea; that
be correctly referred to as dolphins because they are in
is the order containing all animals commonly referred
the scientific family known as delphinidae. Species in
to as whales, dolphins and porpoises. The term whale is
this family all have cone-shaped teeth, a single blowhole
usually used in the common name of the largest of the
on the top of the head, and other morphological traits
animals in the order cetacea,
that separate them from the
including the blue whale, the
other families. What makes
sperm whale and the beluga
this a little confusing is that
whale. That is because the
the common name for many
word whale in English was
of these dolphin species
in use for many centuries
has the word ‘whale’ in the
before scientists started to
name. The killer whale is a
classify all of the cetaceans.
fine example. But there are
It was probably applied
more, including the melonrather indiscriminately to
headed whale, the pygmy
most large animals seen
killer whale, the false killer
swimming in the oceans.
whale, the long-finned pilot
Nowadays, a scientist might
whale, and the short-finned
refer to animals like the blue
pilot whale. To complicate
whale (a species with baleen
the issue even further, all of
Killer Dolphin?
instead of teeth and grooves
the species I just listed are
on their throats) as rorquals,
sometimes called blackfish,
or they might call the sperm
although they are not
whale by the name Physeter. Because common names often
actually fish, and not really whales, but simply dolphins.
vary from place to place and language to language, the
only way to be sure of what animal you are talking about
Porpoises
is to use its scientific name. In English, a killer whale was
probably originally referred to as a whale simply because
You think that is confusing? Try figuring out how the
it is large; it otherwise has very little in common with
word porpoise fits in. In North America, many people
an animal like the blue whale. As we now know, science
refer to dolphins (the species in the family delphinidae)
recognizes the killer whale as a dolphin because it is in the
as porpoises. They may even call a bottlenose dolphin,
delphinidae family.
the most famous dolphin of all, simply a porpoise. This
term came about from fisherman who call most dolphin
But here is one more snag: there are 4 species of freshwater
species a porpoise to differentiate between them and
river dolphins that are NOT in the dolphin family, but
the dolphin fish, otherwise known as mahi-mahi. Now
in separate families altogether. These river dolphins are
the problem is that science recognizes the porpoise as a
nonetheless correctly referred to as dolphins. As you can
different kind of animal altogether. There is a scientific
see, it is not easy to tell a dolphin from a whale. When
family known as phocoenidae that contains 6 species of
in doubt, you can always just shout ‘hey, look - there’s a
what are officially known in science as porpoises. So to be
cetacean! ‘ Maybe that is cheating, but at least you will be
scientifically proper, a porpoise is an animal belonging to
correct! Wouldn’t it be easier if we all just spoke Latin?
the phocoenidae family, and the term porpoise should only
be used to describe one of those 6 species. Unless you are
a fisherman and you want to call a melon-headed whale a
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DCP Announcements!
New article published
A comparison of pectoral fin contact behaviour for three
distinct dolphin populations
To appear in the journal Behavioural Processes
Kathleen M. Dudzinski , Justin D. Gregg, Robin D. Paulos, Stan A. Kuczaj II
ABSTRACT: Tactile exchanges involving the pectoral
fin have been documented in a variety of dolphin species.
Several functions (e.g., social, hygienic) have been offered
as possible explanations for when and why dolphins
exchange pectoral fin contacts. In this study, we compared
pectoral fin contact between dolphin dyads from three
distinct dolphin populations: two groups of wild dolphins;
Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) from The
Bahamas and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
aduncus) from around Mikura Island, Japan; and one
group of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
residing at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences,
Anthony’s Key Resort. A number of similarities were
observed between the captive and wild groups, including;
rates of pectoral fin contact, which dolphin initiated
contact, posture preference, and same-sex rubbing partner
preference. Unlike their wild counterparts, however,
dolphins in the captive study group engaged in petting
and rubbing at equal rates, females were more likely to
contact males, males assumed the various rubbing roles
more frequently than females, and calves and juveniles
were more likely to be involved in pectoral fin contact
exchanges. These results suggest that some aspects of
pectoral fin contact behaviour might be common to many
dolphin species, whereas other aspects could be species
specific, or could be the result of differing environmental
and social conditions.
Dudzinski, K.M., et al., A comparison of pectoral fin
contact behaviour for three distinct dolphin populations.
Behav. Process. (2010), doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2010.02.013
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Bimini-Bound DRTs
DCP Dolphin Research Trainees
The DCP DRT program is offered to 6th, 7th & 8th grade
students from a single school or a school district. The
format follows an informal science education program
with classes occurring once per week for 12 weeks
during an autumn or spring semester. Students learn
about dolphin biology and scientific studies as well
as the culture, history, geography and other details
of one of DCP’s four field site locations. The class
culminates in an optional week-long field program with
students accompanying a DCP researcher to the field
site discussed during the program. Since February, DRTs
in Stonington and Wallingford, Connecticut have been
meeting each week, and will head to beautiful Bimini,
The Bahamas in late June. Follow the field reports from
June 25 to July 2 to keep pace with our 13 traveling
DRTs this summer.
All
DCP’s Adopt-a-Dolphin Program
help
DCP currently has ~20 dolphins from our catalog of Atlantic spotted dolphins residing
around Bimini, The Bahamas available for adoption. While adoptive parents do not get
to take their dolphins home, they will receive a certificate of adoption, a photo of their
adopted dolphin, some facts about Atlantic spotted dolphins, information about DCP and
our research around Bimini and a dolphin video. They will also receive the most recent
edition of the Dolphin Gazette, DCP’s quarterly newsletter, announced quarterly by
eblast. Be sure to send us your email address, or subscribe online at the newsletter page!.
dolphin
support
adoptions
our
through
dolphin
DCP
research
throughout the world, and the creation
and implementation of local, national,
and international education programs for
students of all ages.
Each adoption costs $30 and lasts for
one year. Become a spotted dolphin
parent today & support valuable scientific
research!.
Yes! I want to Some of our dolphins are listed below. For a complete list & all dolphin biographies, check out www.adoptawilddolphin.com
Juliette | Niecey | Tilly | Swoosh | Nemo | Lone Star | Trudy | Tina | Lumpy | Lil’ Jess |
adopt a dolphin!
Freckles | Split jaw | Vincent
I would like to adopt a dolphin: $30 for one year. Dolphin name: ____________________
Please cut out and mail your order form, with check, to DCP at P.O. Box 711, Old Mystic, CT 06372-0711.
Credit card payment is available online through our web site at www.dolphincommunicationproject.org
Please SEND my adoption package to:
If this is a gift, please note gift GIVER address:
Name: ____________________________
Address: __________________________
__________________________________
_________________________________
City: ____________ State: ____ Zip: ____
Email:_____________________________
Name: ____________________________
Address: ___________________________
_ _________________________________
___________________________________
City: ___________ State: ____ Zip: _____
Email:_____________________________
Postcards
$1.00 each/ 3 for $2
Iruka Gear
To purchase Iruka gear visit
www.cafepress/irukagear
Bookmarks
$0.25 each/ 5 for $1.00
Membership
$15 Student welcome packet
$25 Individual : welcome packet
$35 Outside US : welcome packet
$45 Family : 3 notecards, 3 postcards, & welcome packet
$75 Supporting : 3 notecards, 3 postcards, copy of Dolphins The Lighter Side &
welcome packet
$250 Contributing : 1 DCP tank top, 1 DCP t-shirt, 3 notecards, 3 postcards,
copy of Dolphins The Lighter Side & welcome packet
Notecards
$2.50 each/ 3 for $6
$500 Patron : Limited edition matted print suitable for framing, 1 DCP tank top,
1 DCP t-shirt, 3 notecards, 3 postcards, copy of Dolphins The Lighter Side &
welcome packet
DCP Gear
To purhcase DCP gear, visit
www.cafepress/dcpgear
$1000 Benefactor : 25% discount for individual sponsors on a DCP Bahamas’
Ecotour trip, Limited edition matted print suitable for framing, 1 DCP tank top,
1 DCP t-shirt, 3 notecards, 3 postcards, copy of Dolphins The Lighter Side &
welcome packet
Support DCP’s research efforts buy purchasing some of the many
products that we offer for sale. All products seen here are also available
on our website: www.dolphincommunicationproject.org All profits from the
10
sale of these products will directly fund DCP’s research and education
efforts. DCP is a nonprofit organization.
Dolphin Word Search
Find the names of all the dolphin species
AMAZON RIVER
COMMON BOTTLENOSE
ATLANTIC HUMP-BACKED
ATLANTIC SPOTTED
ATLANTIC WHITE SIDED
CHILEAN
CLYMENE
COMMERSONS
DUSKY
FALSE KILLER WHALE
FRANCISCANA
FRASERS
GANGES RIVER
HEAVISIDES
HECTORS
HOURGLASS
INDO PACIFIC BOTTLENOSE
INDUS RIVER
IRRAWADDY
KILLER WHALE
LONG BEAKED COMMON
LONG FINNED PILOT WHALE
MELON HEAD WHALE
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE
PACIFIC HUMP-BACKED
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED
PANTROPICAL SPOTTED
PEALES
PYGMY KILLER WHALE
RISSOS
ROUGH TOOTHED
SADDLEBACK
SHORT BEAKED COMMON
SHORT FINNED PILOT WHALE
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE
SPINNER
STRIPED
TUCUXI
WHITE-BEAKED
YANGTZE RIVER
W W W. D O L P H I N C O M M U N I C AT I O N P R O J E C T. O R G