June 25---Catching a Glimpse...

Yaana is outside the mouth of the bay.

Pablo's team saw a tagged dolphin yesterday, apparently with only one pin still holding the satellite tag onto the fin. Unfortunately, they were not able to get any photos of it, so we cannot determine for certain which dolphin it was. However, Yaana has spent time in the vicinity (near Northeast Sandbanks) on each of the past 3 days before moving offshore at night. Field conditions are very challenging---the extreme cold limits time on the water each day. (That is a shot of calm conditions---you can imagine how hard it is when things are far from ideal, as right now.)

May 1 - Getting Data

From west to east the dolphins are: Roberto, Lea, and Yaana has moved back into the bay.

I've gotten some questions from readers asking how we get the tags on the dolphins to create the daily maps that I am posting. It is hard work! The tagging research involves a team of about 40 people on 6-7 boats, and a long net that encircles 1-3 dolphins in shallow water (less than two meters deep). We then measure the dolphin, attach a satellite-linked transmitter to its dorsal fin, obtain a blood sample for health assessment, and release the dolphin---all within about 5-10 minutes! I am lucky to work with such a solid group. The photo on the left is of Yaana's release.

Follow-up work involves receiving downloads of dolphin positions over the computer back in the lab. We plan to initiate periodic observations of the dolphins in Bahia San Blas, in which team members will use small boats to find dolphins and photograph their fins with a digital camera with a telephoto lens, looking for nicks, notches, and tags. In fact, I mentioned last week that Dr. Bordino got some new funding to do this very soon. I am looking forward to posting some of the photos he gets.