The Dolphin Project

Information

Cause - Wildlife & Animal Rights. a nonprofit, volunteer group engaged in conducting a long- term, scientific study of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin.

Website: http://www.thedolphinproject.org/
Location: Atlantic coastline, USA
Members: 13
Latest Activity: Jun 17, 2011

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10.10.10 Video.

10.10.10 Photos.

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About The Dolphin Project:
The Dolphin Project (TDP) was organized in 1989 after a mass die-off of dolphins on the Eastern seaboard of the United States. To learn more details of our history, please go to our HISTORY page. Scientists and volunteers came together to count the dolphins and photograph their dorsal fins (comparable to a human fingerprint for identification). These actions help to monitor the health of the dolphins which are the sentinel species of the estuarine environment. Since we share this environment, the well-being of these dolphins impacts our well-being too. TDP adds to the knowledge base of Bottlenose dolphins through the sharing of collected field data. Regular collaboration takes place both formally and informally with many research scientists, universities, other interested organizations and government agencies. The Dolphin Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization.

TDP members seek to contribute to the understanding of marine mammals by expanding the public's knowledge and concern for our marine environment through its Education Outreach Program that brings interesting and fun facts about dolphins into classrooms and to various organizations.

In 1989, Dr. Charles Potter, senior marine-mammal scientist at the Smithsonian Institution, was on the team that helped TDP leaders establish the scientific protocols, training classes and the geographic survey zones in the sounds, rivers and smaller tidal streams of the coast.

Using boats, TDP members travel in precisely established zones to count dolphin and record their behavior as well as photograph them. Repetition in surveying specific zones enables consistency in observations and facilitates comparison of findings over the years. TDP information is helping to document the dolphin population in the survey zones. TDP is able to get a relative abundance of these animals -- a comparison of counts over time -- It is complex to determine population since dolphin travel as they please. The largest concentration of the TDP data has come from the greater Savannah area.

When TDP teams are on the water, a record with each dolphin photo states the date, time, latitude and longitude. In this way we are able to compare multiple photos of a particular dolphin over time and learn the extent of its range and often the other dolphin with which it associates. Some dolphin along our coast are visitors, but primarily local residents are seen. Volunteers are on the water one weekend a month during 11 months of the year to photograph and take a census of the dolphins, also noting behavior.

Discussion Forum

Dolphins 2 Replies

who will be filming dolphins on 10.10.10 and where? :-)

Started by Cari Ann Shim Sham*. Last reply by Cari Ann Shim Sham* Oct 5, 2010.

Question

How can I help if I don't live near an ocean?

Started by Alex Robb Oct 5, 2010.

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Comment Wall

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Comment by Katy Gates on June 17, 2011 at 1:27pm: Hello all! Here at One Day on Earth, we're gearing up for 11/11/11 and we want you to join! Anyone planning something interesting for the dolphins for November?

Comment by Laura Victore on December 22, 2010 at 10:30pm: Thank you for keeping up with us

Education Members might be willing to visit your school

please let us know!

also,

Please note the dates below

always looking for volunteers in the Savannah GA or Hilton Head Area

you'll need to sign up for a one day training so check the web site!

thanks again,

Laura

Comment by Laura Victore on December 12, 2010 at 5:58pm: If you are interested in Volunteering :

2011 Survey Dates

                January 22 - followed by Quarterly Dinner/Meeting
                February 19
                March 19
                April 16 - followed by Quarterly Dinner/Meeting
                May 21
                June 25
                July 16 - followed by Quarterly Dinner/Meeting
                August 20
                September 17
                October 15 - followed by Quarterly Dinner/Meeting
                November 19

For Survey Methodology and Information:
                                    TDP Surveys
                                  Skippers
                             Team Leaders
                     Assistant Team Leaders
                             Photographers

Comment by Laura Victore on November 4, 2010 at 10:01pm: http://www.onedayonearth.org/profile/LauraVictore
to see the video footage

Comment by Laura Victore on October 18, 2010 at 1:49am: Thank you Captain Frank for a fabulous survey last Saturday
Laura

Comment by Laura Victore on October 14, 2010 at 6:19am: When I started out in the morning the sky was cloudless, the wind absent and the water glass-like. The fog created some wonderful sfumato. Within one hour we had spotted small dolphin pods, most traveling with young newborns.

Then we neared Cockspur Island and cut teh engine, to find ourselves in the middle of a feeding frenzy of about 50-65 dolphins. They were spinning the schools of mullet fish into spirals and pushing them with their tails into the air about 10-20 fish in the air at once. The chase was on with dolphin skimming through the schools at an incredible quick pace.

By noon I was traveling one hour south to the Richmond Hill area where we saw additional small pods and the weather remained spectacular.

Many thanks to the skippers, They were amazing.
More to report soon

Comment by Laura Victore on October 11, 2010 at 4:21am: You can help our residential dolphins through The Dolphin Project's Adopt-A- Dolphin program. Know a dolphin lover? Adopt-A-Dolphin is a great gift idea for birthdays, Christmas, class projects, thank-you's and memorials. You may choose your dolphin from a gallery of dorsal fins.

For $25, an Adopt-A-Dolphin package will be sent with information about estuarine wild dolphins, a photograph of your adopted dolphin's dorsal fin, a personalized adoption certificate, a nautical chart showing survey zones where your dolphin has been sighted, an information sheet on photo-identification of dorsal fins and how they are used by The Dolphin Project, a brochure about The Dolphin Project, children's activity pages and a dolphin bookmark.

Download an ADOPT-A-DOLPHIN BROCHURE

For more information: adopt@thedolphinproject.org

Comment by Laura Victore on October 9, 2010 at 3:40pm: very excited about tomorrow's filming !!!

Comment by Laura Victore on October 7, 2010 at 4:30am: I will be filming on the rivers in the marshland areas along the coastline of Georgia. I will catch sunrise off Lazaretto Creek and afternoon near Richmond Hill area. I will post preliminary images soon.

Comment by Laura Victore on October 6, 2010 at 3:31am: Thank you to all the new members !!!
Please continue to check in for the film
Laura Victore