8 minute read
The Bitter End
When the Wind Blows
By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill
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In what started out as a slow hurricane season, the U.S. has seen two major events in under two months. We were lucky this time in that both veered away from us, though unfortunately the same can’t be said for the regions that took bad hits.
For folks like me who work in the marine and eco-tourism businesses, even close calls can impact us. And in the days leading up to the event, I get lots of questions from tour guests concerning what dolphins do during hurricanes. The long and the short of it is, we’re not really sure. No one is out in a hurricane observing their behavior and I haven’t been able to fi nd any studies on the topic. However, we can see the clues in the days prior.
Now bear in mind, I am NOT a marine biologist, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night and have a Ph.D. from YouTube University.
In the days leading up to a major storm, I’ve noticed there usually seems to be an increase in feeding habits, and I’ve also noticed them being less social with the tour boat, as they become focused on food. These mammals consume about 4- to 6% of their body weight daily, and for creatures weighing 300-600 pounds that amounts to a lot of sushi.
I’ve been researching what triggers these behavioral changes, and again, it’s still a bit of a puzzle how they sense these things. Most research I’ve found has been conducted on open water, on oceanic dolphins, whereas I deal with our coastal variety of Atlantic bottlenose, which means two diff erent dynamics. One of the triggers I read about cites salinity changes as a possible trigger. As storms move in, fresh water in the form of heavy rain decreases salinity, thereby aff ecting the fi sh they feed on. That doesn’t strike me as being a signifi cant factor here though. What I do notice is that with increasing winds come muddier waters. Water visibility, as most fi shermen will attest, changes fi sh movement and feeding habits. It only stands to reason that this could impact critters that feed on them, in this case the dolphins. Dolphins hunt with a combination of eco-location and sight. As water visibility declines so does their success rate, though I’m sure visibility has little eff ect on their sonar.
On the other hand, as waves build in the days preceding storms, I also see an increase in their playfulness. Natural surfers that they are, I see them using the waves to both surf as well as make dynamic jumps. Guess they put the feeding on pause to catch a wave every now and then!
I’ve also noticed that prior to storms, there are fewer dolphins
Photo by Captain J. Gary Hill
in areas where I tour that usually have high numbers, which is one of the many things that make me wonder. I can honestly say I’m out there with these guys more than most people are, running nearly a thousand dolphin/nature tours annually, and they continue to amaze me and puzzle me.
Although dolphin research is extensive, fi nding it online can be challenging. But one of the things I’ve found concerns social behaviors changing in pods of dolphins that have suff ered numeric loses. In the Bahamas, for example, when numbers have diminished in both the spotted Atlantic dolphin and the Atlantic bottlenose, aggressive behaviors between males have all but vanished. Many folks don’t realize how aggressive dolphins can be with one another, with males often fi ghting for both territory and females. Also, many dolphins aren’t real receptive to letting a stranger join their group. However, when their numbers shrink, they seem to make exceptions. As if they recognize the need to rebuild their ranks.
Dolphins are incredible animals and I’m lucky I get to spend as much time with them as I do.
There’s so much more I could write about my experiences and observations on these amazing creatures but time and space prevail. I do hope I’ve fueled your thirst for answers and that you'll spend a little time looking online for answers too!
Also, we’re working on putting together a little dolphin extravaganza with some local experts around the fi rst week of November. If you’re interested in a boat ride to see a few of our undersea friends and learn more about them, send Amy or me an email. Proceeds from the tickets will go to benefi t local dolphin research organizations.
Until next time, have a blessed life and I'll see y'all on the water!
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