Finally we set out to sea to look for dolphins. The first crew is composed of Mário and Ana. Ana has been working with shark ecology in the University of Porto, while Mário works with Hyla frogs in the University of Évora. They are now both in CIBIO (Center for Research on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources) taking their MSC's and decided to come on board before their teaching modules start.
On our first day out we decided to try and locate the bottlenose dolphins. As it was the first day we left relatively late. The fact I had to explain certain things about the boat to them, and that we had to wait for another boat at fuel pier, all contributed to that. We set course to the place I've seen them 2 days earlier but once we were there we realized it would have been to much luck to find bottlenose in the same place as 2 days before. We changed course to farther offshore but still no luck. We could hear the whale-watching boats reporting common-dolphins but I really wanted to try and find bottlenose. Unfortunately, all we saw was this:
Lots of empty ocean (at least in what concerns to bottlenose)!!!
So next day, I decided to aim at the commons. Mário and Ana will be here for a short while, and I wanted to take advantage of them being here as much as I can, so I decided to prioritize completing the samples from commons. We set course to the dolphin spot we identified last year, and with a little help from the whale-watching boats, we were soon in sight of a big group of common-dolphins. We took some time to take pictures from as much animals as we could before starting our sampling.
So next day, I decided to aim at the commons. Mário and Ana will be here for a short while, and I wanted to take advantage of them being here as much as I can, so I decided to prioritize completing the samples from commons. We set course to the dolphin spot we identified last year, and with a little help from the whale-watching boats, we were soon in sight of a big group of common-dolphins. We took some time to take pictures from as much animals as we could before starting our sampling.
The group was quite large and was displaying the ideal behaviour for sampling. We got into the small dingy and immediately the animals started bowriding. We got 3 samples before the groups dispersed and changed their behaviour. They were clearly feeding and not caring for our boat too much at all. From there it was really hard to approach them so we decided to return to Clavadel. We also decided to feed ourselves and after the dolphins fed they starting exhibiting some socialization behaviour, with breeding going on. We then realized on small groups readily approached Clavadel, so I decided to try and sample some with the large pole. I was lucky and got more 3 samples. This means that on our first day of dolphins we got 6 samples, a very good number for the first day!
The next day we were really motivated to go for more samples. 6 was the number we were aiming at again. However, in spite of the great visibility, almost no wind and the heat wave, dolphins were hard to come by! We eventually found a group of six with the help of the whale-watchers, but they were apparently resting. We stayed with them for several hours waiting either for their behaviour to change or that they would lead us to another group. That never happened, and I got into the dingy and realized on of the dolphins was probably sick. He had a strange breathing pattern and almost didn't react to our approach. The other ones looked healthy, and looked as if they were keeping the sick dolphin company.
I decided to leave and look for another group, but the odds were grim. We could see the whale-watchers coming back and forth not finding anything. At some point they spotted us and came straight to us hoping we had something. As they reached us they realized we didn't and took a U turn and headed to a completely different direction. It is only ironic that, had they waited 5 minutes, they would have found a group of commons! Me and Mário got into the dingy and approached the group. They were visibly nervous and not in a mood for sampling. Nevertheless, they were bowriding and I took my first sample. From there, they just started to become suspicious and wouldn't let us approach them. I quickly called off the sampling and went back to Clavadel.That was not a good group to sample! As we were heading back, we spotted one marine turtle and the first lost bird of the season came to rest in Clavadel.
As we were back, Ana became jealous of Mário and insisted she wanted to learn how to drive the dingy. I took her for a quick lesson and in a short while she was doing it very good. So now, both of them drive both boats very effectively, and maybe I should start worrying they might decide to take them somewhere (Morocco maybe)!!!
Today, we are on our third day of sampling, aiming at commons again. We have some whale watching boats in sight, and hoping to find dolphins there. I will update in the next few days!
The next day we were really motivated to go for more samples. 6 was the number we were aiming at again. However, in spite of the great visibility, almost no wind and the heat wave, dolphins were hard to come by! We eventually found a group of six with the help of the whale-watchers, but they were apparently resting. We stayed with them for several hours waiting either for their behaviour to change or that they would lead us to another group. That never happened, and I got into the dingy and realized on of the dolphins was probably sick. He had a strange breathing pattern and almost didn't react to our approach. The other ones looked healthy, and looked as if they were keeping the sick dolphin company.
I decided to leave and look for another group, but the odds were grim. We could see the whale-watchers coming back and forth not finding anything. At some point they spotted us and came straight to us hoping we had something. As they reached us they realized we didn't and took a U turn and headed to a completely different direction. It is only ironic that, had they waited 5 minutes, they would have found a group of commons! Me and Mário got into the dingy and approached the group. They were visibly nervous and not in a mood for sampling. Nevertheless, they were bowriding and I took my first sample. From there, they just started to become suspicious and wouldn't let us approach them. I quickly called off the sampling and went back to Clavadel.That was not a good group to sample! As we were heading back, we spotted one marine turtle and the first lost bird of the season came to rest in Clavadel.
As we were back, Ana became jealous of Mário and insisted she wanted to learn how to drive the dingy. I took her for a quick lesson and in a short while she was doing it very good. So now, both of them drive both boats very effectively, and maybe I should start worrying they might decide to take them somewhere (Morocco maybe)!!!
Today, we are on our third day of sampling, aiming at commons again. We have some whale watching boats in sight, and hoping to find dolphins there. I will update in the next few days!
2 comments:
Espera a que chegue o teu melhor piloto!
Eu estou desejoso, até porque além de bom piloto, é um excelente despertador!!! ;) E tem em conta que desta vez sabemos onde está o sino!
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