A a nursery group of mothers and calves traveling in a tight little rank on a morning stroll.
Dolphins are unique wild animals because they are interested in human beings.
I surveyed our dolphin study area alone today. The sky was clear, the waters calm. The air was warm and gentle.
When I found dolphins, we were heading in opposite directions. I headed north 'in the road' between the channels markers. Six dolphins headed south in the shallow waters outside the channel. It was a nursery group of mothers and calves traveling in a tight little rank.
They swam leisurely, in rhythm with the sea.
They merged into the road, then angled again and headed toward the boat. Usually, dolphin research isn't this easy!
Dolphins in this area often encounter other groups of dolphins and often change course to swim past each other, sometimes close enough to touch. So, I was delighted but not really surprised when the dolphins angled toward my boat. However, I would soon be very surprised!
As we came abreast, I gave my acoustic greeting and slowly turned the boat around. That's when I faced the sun; before it had been to my back. Low in the morning sky, it reflected off the water so brightly that nearly half the view in front of me was bathed in radiant light.
Radiant isn't the word. Blinding is the word! Piercing sunglasses and visor, the sun squeezed my eyes to slits.
We always try to position the boat to one side of the dolphins instead of behind them so they don't think we're chasing them. Though they traveled a straight course today, I had to constantly re-position my boat to avoid the burning brilliance of reflected glare. I cut a crazy path with the boat, going this way and that.
Maybe they thought I was being playful. Dolphins themselves cut crazy paths through the water when they play. Whatever they thought, they came closer with every surface until they swam next to the boat. Matching rhythm and direction, we fell into step and traveled side-by-side. A morning stroll with wild dolphins.
There is intense pleasure in moments like these, payment for the considerable costs of research. It was also very satisfying to recognize all six dolphins. Stick was here, the playful youngster named for the game of catch it invited us to play last year. Stick's Mom was there, a social female who knows everybody (dolphins, that is!). Stick and Stick's Mom traveled with Split and Q, mothers with small wiggly calves. We give dolphins gender-free names like letters of the alphabet when their body or behavior doesn't suggest a name. Split has a small split at the top of her dorsal fin. We named Q "Q" because that's how far down in the alphabet we were when we first saw her.
They swam alongside my boat for 20 minutes. Can you imagine? They were so close I could hear them breathe. I indulged in close observation, eying the marks of experience that scarred their skin. They kept looking at me, their intelligent eyes looking straight into mine. Who ARE these people in dolphin suits? What is their impression of us?
Alas, this is research. Our federal permit allows privileged access in exchange for data. I stopped the boat to record my data, which took several minutes. I can catch up to them when I'm done, I thought, typing data into my computer.
When I finished, I was flabbergasted to see the dolphins nearby. They had WAITED for me. I had expected them to continue their stroll in the radiant morning light. I slowly caught up to them and we continued our stroll!
For an animal behaviorist, there are many precious moments of connection and understanding with the animals we study. But this charming stroll, at the prerogative of wild animals, was truly humbling.
Dr. Weaver studies wild dolphins under federal permit GA1088-1815, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Contact her at www.dazzlingdolphins.com.
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