muddy dolphins

What's the difference between the bottlenose dolphins that live in Georgia's estuaries and the bottlenose dolphins all over the world?

Our dolphins like to roll up on a muddy riverbank to snap up fish!

No other dolphins exhibit that behavior.

In the 3400 miles of shoreline formed by the marshy lands of the five Georgia rivers that empty into the Atlantic Ocean, these dolphins have learned how to maximize their eating efforts, and adapted their physiology as well.

It's amazing.

That's just one of the things I learned at The Dolphin Project's Research Training Workshop I attended this morning.

 

Taught by Peach Hubbard, one of the Skippers who lend their boats and their time to the monthly trips to the estuaries to gather data, I was impressed by all the information on these unique marine mammals living along Georgia's 100-mile coastline.

Wait, that math doesn't seem to add up... or does it?

Oh, it does, most definitely.

 

As the crow flies between South Caroline and Florida, Georgia does have a 100-mile coastline, but that's just part of the story. Taking a boat and riding that distance all along the many inlets and nooks, the turns and loops, that 100 miles becomes expanded more than three hundredfold.

Without The Dolphin Project's scientific work these past four decades, I have to wonder how many Tybee Beach visitors might have ever had the delight of seeing the dolphins swimming along the shore?

I have, and it's a marvel to me to know they play in the surf just as we do.

That doesn't mean they are tame creatures, though.

One look at that mouth full of sharp teeth and that muscular body is a reminder that these animals live in the wild and that we need to respect their lives.

No feeding the dolphins!

No swimming with the dolphins!

No contaminating of their environment!

That's all part of the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

I'm glad I'm part of the One Hundred Mile advocacy program to fight for their rights.

I'm glad I was part of the STERI program in high school and learned about respecting the natural fauna and flora in our marshes and rivers and ocean.

I'm glad I signed up for this research training today.

What will I do now?

Twenty-seven years ago, when I was given a gift certificate by my husband to participate in this research training, I wanted to be part of the expeditions on the water.

Is that what I want now?

I don't know that answer yet, but I know this: I'm ready for a change.