Heading North

One of our bottlenose dolphin sitings today. They really move through the water! (Photo: A. Mooney,  NMFS permit # 15530 to CRC)

Today started out exciting. We headed north into Peps territory. That's the bank on the north west of the Kohala coast of the Big Island, where one population our target species, melon-headed whales (or Peponocephala electra) makes its primary residence. But it's a big area. About 400 square miles and our 'Peps' were nowhere to be found, despite great conditions most of the day.  We did find two groups of Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Eventually the seas turned rough and we headed back to harbor. Hoping for another decent weather day tomorrow.

Aliza examining our acoustic data after a long day in the field.

Occasionally coming back at home without acoustic data to download is not too bad because it gives you a chance to catch up on organizing the data we do have. See the pic below of Aliza examining some Dtag-collected dolphin whistles. We're also trying to fix an underwater Go-Pro video camera to our towfish , so we can watch as animals approach our recorder.

Captain T-Rex occasionally drives the boat.