tursiops.org - Dolphin counters spot 117 swimming along Maryland coastline. MD, USA

A total 117 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were spotted along the 26 miles of Maryland coastline during the Baltimore National Aquarium’s 13th annual dolphin count last Friday.

The count is a “snapshot” of dolphin health. Each year the count is conducted, it provides the aquarium with additional data the scientists can use to compare and track the dolphins’ longterm population fluctuation.

Scientists also look at age (adults, young of the year and neonates) to determine reproduction rates, which, in turn, provides long-term information about dolphin populations, migration and ocean health. Counters not only looked for fins, but also noted the direction the dolphins were swimming and what they were doing.

From 9 a.m. until noon on July 16, volunteers and staff from the aquarium, Marine Animal Rescue Program and the public were stationed on the beach at 40th and 130th streets in Ocean City and at Assateague State Park. The beach count gave the public an opportunity to contribute to the study while learning about the ocean environment and helping scientists measure the dolphin population.

Jennifer Dittmar, stranding coordinator for the Marine Animal Rescue Program — centerpiece of the aquarium’s ocean health initiative — was on the beach at 40th Street. Although it was a little foggy, the water was calm, which, Dittmar said, made it easier to locate dolphins. Dittmar and volunteers Jerry Beard, Nathan Durman and Michele White, and Amber White, assistant trainer at the aquarium, saw some dolphins as soon as the count began at 9 a.m.

“There was a big school of baitfish and a couple dolphins came close to shore to feed on them,” Dittmar said. “It was pretty cool.”

“Seeing the animals, especially the young ones, is exciting,” said Beard, who lives near Baltimore and participated in the dolphin count for eight years.

A survey was also conducted from a Coast Guard boat, which allowed counters to see dolphins up close, watch their behavior and estimate their ages.

A plane with several dolphin counters on board flew over the ocean as well. An aerial view provides the most accurate count, said Jennifer Bloomer,media relations manager for the Aquarium.

“We use the number from the plane as our primary total, but we rely on the boat and land-based numbers if the plane can’t get up due to weather, or other issues. From the plane, we counted 117 so we used that number as our official count. That number was roughly the combined totals from the boat and three land locations,” Bloomer said. “Overall, the count was very successful and the use of the plane helped tremendously. We were very impressed with the amount of volunteers we had this year. Having 63 volunteers join us made the event a huge success.”

In the past, counters have come up with varying numbers. From 1998-2010, records were 184, 31, 206, 265, 9, 119, 110, 159, 66, 17, 66, 344 and 117, respectively.

Source: http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/