Earthwatch - Wild Dolphin Societies Teachers in the Field

	Today was a definite go.  We were meeting at the boat at ten.  We brought our sweaters, hats, jackets, lunch etc. since we were reminded often of how cold the wind out of the NE could be. We wouldn't be back until later in the afternoon. I was the Environmental Data Recorder, Mrs. McCorry, the film logger, and Ann and Don, Dolphin Survey Data Recorders (the BIG job).
	I took environmental readings at the dock.  Salinity was 32 ppt, water temperature was 62 degrees F, and the secchi disk went down to about 4 feet clearly.  The GPS reading was 27 degrees North latitude and 82 degrees West longitude.  Check those readings out on your classroom map.
	We were off!  When we entered the main part of Sarasota Bay the chop was heavy and we were rising and falling into the swells.  I took another Environmental Reading and had a difficult time with the secchi disk because it wouldn't drop straight down since the boat wouldn't stay still!  I learned to drop it quickly!  Sue Hofmann brought the boat around and back into calmer waters and we continued to scan for dolphins.  Where were they?
	At around 12:30 we spotted our first pod of dolphins near Siesta Key bridge.  We were excited!  There were about 6 dolphins feeding, socializing and traveling. We know they were feeding because we saw one dolphin toss his fish up in the air, before eating.  Sue told us a story about one time when a dolphin tossed the fish and a pelican grabbed it before it landed! We identified the dolphins using Sue's visual memory for details and the fin book.
Moonfin Look-Alike	Riptorn
Moonfin Look-Alike and calf	Moonfin Look-alike page in fin identification book
	We were at the Mote Dock when we spied another sighting!  RP27 and her calf, Annie.  These two dolphins like to feed along the sea wall where fish come up and have no where to go.  They zoomed along the sea wall together.  There is a great story attached to them. RP27 was orphaned but survived.  She had her calf and the calf was named Little Orphan's Annie.  I hope you read that carefully!  When Annie was one year old her dorsal fin was bitten by a shark but she healed and is now 3 years old.  Mother and calf are still together and feeding along the seawall!

Now I would like to answer a few more of your questions.

• When did you see your first dolphin? At 12:30 by Siesta Key Bridge!
• How old do dolphins get?  They age to around 40-50 years.
• Can you tell if a female dolphin is pregnant?  Well first you must be able to identify the dolphin by its fin and then if it breaches out of the water you might be able to tell by its silhouette.  Usually though the survey team knows because the next time they spot the dolphin there is a calf by her side!

My next assignment to you is a request for 10 questions to ask Sue Hofmann about her job as co-principal investigator for this Dolphin Research Project.  What would you like to know about this remarkable woman and her interesting career?

Have a great day!
Mrs. Johnson

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