June 11th was Volunteers Day and on behalf of Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch, we would like to thank all of the students, teachers, volunteers and community members for their fantastic efforts towards Cetacean conservation and protection in all of the Dolphin Watch sites; Victor Harbor, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Townsville Queensland and Kangaroo Island. Outstanding effort by so many, volunteering on or off the water in any way, is fantastic and highly valued, with wonderful outcomes! A special thankyou to the boat providers and skippers Andrew Neighbour / “Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures”, Dan Irvine / “The Big Duck”, Trevor Thomas, Kevin Pallant, Steve Storic and Mike Foster – the backbone around which our efforts are made possible.

Following the exciting meeting the boats travelled to Encounter Bay seeking whales and enjoyed an enthralling encounter with 30 – 40 Oceanic Common Dolphins busy feeding out from the Bluff. These speedy, small dolphins joined in the celebrations with a high powered display including acrobatic jumps as they sought their elusive prey. In a boost for the avid bird watchers on board, they were joined in the pursuit by Giant Petrels, Australasian Gannets, Cormorants and Pacific Gulls. The crews then lunched at the Granite Island Café where a delicious meal was provided by Dolphin Watch supporter Dayna Crowe and staff. In a brief address Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch Coordinator Tony Bartram acknowledged special guests Mike Bossley who is world renowned for his long term research with dolphins in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, Elizabeth Steele-Collins, Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch Manager Nedra Haines and the outstanding efforts of KI Marine Adventures skipper Andrew Neighbour for 6 ½ years and Dan Irvine for over a year – the backbone of Dolphin Watch efforts. KI Dolphin Watch mentor Mike was duly acknowledged for developing the original Dolphin Watch project on Kangaroo Island which has led to the project being established in Victor Harbor by KI Dolphin Watch in 2011.
In a remarkable coincidence the celebrations were sandwiched between World Oceans Day June 8th and Volunteers Day June 11th providing an opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of all the students and volunteers. The regional nature of our collaborative research effort was highlighted, with the hope of possibly establishing dolphin connectivity between sites, as well as the common threat we face with respect to oil and gas exploration mooted off Kangaroo Island’s coast, of considerable concern to both communities.
This intrepid undertaking which resulted in the volunteers from KI logging 226 kilometres at sea, was an outstanding success. Local dolphins escorted the “Island Explorer” from Christmas Cove at 8.30am and welcomed them home at 5pm, and for thrilling “icing on the cake” on the return journey, two Southern Right Whales were observed, for an extended period off Tunkalilla on the Fleurieu Peninsula – the first of many we hope for the season. Their slow gentle movement emphasized their vulnerability to all observers and underpinned the theme – “Watch Out! Whales About!”

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society through Ian Potter Foundation funding, started Dolphin Watch in Townsville May 14th with students and staff from Pimlico State High School. Two days of intensive field surveys yielded sightings of Bottlenose Dolphins in the busy harbour entrance but the much sought after Australian Snubfins and Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins proved elusive. Given their threatened status due to their low numbers, this was not entirely surprising and has just made the challenge more rewarding. Presentations and training workshops conducted by WDCS Project Coordinator Tony Bartram and KI Dolphin Watch volunteer Phyll Bartram were well received and the outstanding effort, interest and vision by teacher Mike Foster plus the enthusiasm and interest of the Year 11 and 12 students augurs well for the success of this wonderful research effort.

WATCH OUT, WHALES ABOUT!
National Whale Day 2 June 2012
Australia’s Fifth National Whale Day

“Cooperation for Cetacean Conservation”
United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2012

Launched in 2008 by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) National Whale Day celebrates the unique relationship Australians have with whales, but also draws attention to some of the threats they face today, which include whaling, climate change, vessel strikes, marine debris and ocean noise. This year the theme is ‘Watch out, whales about!” and aims to encourage responsible behaviour on the water around whales and dolphins.

Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch volunteers intend to leave Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island early in the morning aboard Andrew Neighbour’s KI Marine Adventures vessel and travel over Backstair’s Passage to mainland South Australia. We will then travel down the coast in the hope of seeing whales and recording information about dolphin pods at Deep Creek and Waitpinga.

We travel on to Victor Harbor, home of the SA Whale Centre, and meet SA Whale Centre volunteers and Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch volunteers on board Dan Irvine’s “Big Duck” for a “WHALE ENCOUNTER” in Encounter Bay where Matthew Flinders and Nicholas Baudin had their encounter many years ago. Dr Mike Bossley AM of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society will be on board the “Big Duck”. After combined “whale spotting” and recording we will celebrate over lunch at the Granite Island Café before heading on our
separate ways.

This will be an outstanding event and we are hoping to capture media interest through its unique and quirky use of historical context, all with the intent of awareness raising regarding issues of Cetacean welfare and conservation. As with last year’s event due to windy weather, the event has been rescheduled to the following Saturday 9th June.

Students from Kingscote Campus of Kangaroo Island Community Education joined in celebrating Dolphin Watch’s 6th birthday recently with a survey to North Cape in ideal conditions. A total of 15 dolphins were sighted at 3 sites; North Cape, South Beacon and Shoal Bay, with several known identities. A beautiful birthday cake prepared by KI Bakery was enjoyed on site at North Cape.

Congratulations, well done and thankyou to all students, volunteers and supporters!

Jessica Rowe and Jacinta Pardekooper from Penneshaw Campus of Kangaroo Island Community Education presented a cheque to Dolphin Watch Coordinator Tony Bartram at a school assembly recently. This is the second occasion on which they have been able to make substantial contributions to Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch / Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society funds as a result of their sterling fundraising efforts, including raffles, coin collections and running stalls at functions. Their fantastic ongoing work to support Dolphin Watch in protection and conservation of Cetaceans, is greatly appreciated and highly valued. The ongoing support of KI Shellfish through the Oyster Shop is absolutely wonderful and helps immeasurably. Thankyou!

Furious and prolonged mating activity was observed on the last two field surveys in the area off Granite Island, Victor Harbor in early April. St Peter’s College Outdoor Education staff and SA Whale Centre volunteers both had similar experiences on The Big Duck Boat Tours and the data gleaned was amazing. Photographic sequences allowed confirmation of the gender of several of the more frequently sighted members of the local pod. 024 Neptune in particular who has been sighted on 10 surveys out of 13 in 2011 – 2012, 2 of which had no sightings, plus atleast 2 land based sightings, is obviously aptly named. Questions regarding residency as against transience of males are very much to the forefront following these observations.

Blustery conditions and poor visibility did little to dampen the spirits of the Kangaroo Island artists who put to sea on a special field survey to celebrate KI Dolphin Watch’s 6th birthday on March 8th 2012. The trip organised by volunteer Sandy Carey, was a long overdue thankyou for the artists who generously supported fund raising efforts through the “Shared Realm” Dolphin Watch Exhibition. Sandy was the prime mover in making this wonderful example of community support come to pass and it was fitting that Fleur Peters of Fine Art KI, who collaborated with Sandy on the successful exhibition was one of the crew. Fleur and Fred Peters very kindly continue to support KI Dolphin Watch and promote the project and its core business. All on board were delighted by a series of sightings, culminating in a very close up and personal encounter with eleven very curious dolphins. A wonderful way to say thankyou and celebrate an auspicious birthday.

In the near future Kangaroo Island Community Education students and volunteers will also have the opportunity to celebrate this significant milestone, and sincere thanks to everyone involved in the project.

40 plus dolphins were observed in very windy conditions on the field survey at Dashwood Bay on January 25th - the 3rd survey for the year, kicking off the new year’s research in fine style. 4 new calves delighted observers with their antics. Special crew members Amalia Cudrat; an Environmental Education Facilitator from France and Catherine Weber from Switzerland, added an international flavour to proceedings. Amalia took some excellent video clips and has kindly made them available to us. The best of these is available for viewing on the Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kangaroo-Island-Dolphin-Watch/177821708954324

Thankyou Amalia!!

“Well, of course, I love all the magazine stories and connections but your Dolphin Watch story is one of the most exhilarating and inspiring articles we’ve had. AND it happened just as we were expanding into Facebook AND you got that wonderful coverage in the Islander. I feel as though I’ve been on the BEST adventure with you, with so many good outcomes. First hand experience of KI and the dolphins would be a terrific bonus. Someday. Meanwhile, keep inspiring more generations of marine greenies – and building up skills and communications. You are both / all FANTASTIC!”

Saren Starbridge     Wildlife Australia  December 2011