Humpback fun!

A very late in the season sighting of a Humpback Whale was the highlight of the latest, the 102nd field survey on November 24th. Humpback sightings have been rare on Kangaroo Island in previous years but regular sightings of groups off Stokes Bay and Weirs Cove earlier in the year gave no indication that the animals would still be in the vicinity so long after they are expected to be journeying back to Antarctic waters. The whale was sighted at the back of Beatrice Islet in Shoal Bay, some 2 kilometres offshore from Kingscote. There were reports of it having been sighted close to shore in Nepean Bay the day before. Details and images regarding this unusual sighting will be forwarded to the SA Whale Centre at Victor Harbor and the SA Museum in Adelaide.

Indonesian exchange students enjoying the Dolphin Watch field survey November 24th 2011

University students from across Indonesia on Kangaroo Island as part of an Australian-Indonesian Youth Exchange Programme, coordinated by Kangaroo Island Community Education and supported by Regional Development Australia and the Kangaroo Island Council, enjoyed participating in field surveys to North Cape onThursday 24^th November.

The first group handled the trying conditions with considerable aplomb and kept up consistently high quality research effort, in spite of blustery conditions and sea sickness. 8 dolphins rewarded their persistence with a series of close encounters initiated by the curious dolphins. The second group experienced even more luck with over 20 dolphins putting on a high speed fishing display by the South Beacon. The trip home yielded even greater reward when a 15 metre Humpback Whale frolicked in the channel in close proximity to “Island Explorer” for 20 minutes, before heading out to sea. A rare but incredibly awe inspiring and uplifting experience for all onboard and due compensation for the challenging weather conditions which prevailed.

Sincere thanks to the Indonesian students and coordinator Kris Hondow for their brilliant help and support.

“Doing Dolphin Watch was lovely and best experience in my life. Can’t wait for other chance! Thankyou.”  Mahmud

“Thankyou very much for WDCS that arranged our group and gave us a chance to watch dolphins, seal and also whale. It was wonderful journey. I got a lot of experience and absolutely insight about wild dolphins, their habits and habitat.”     Ni Made Dian

A celebration lunch followed at project sponsors and supporters Aurora Ozone Hotel, concluding a great day with an enthusiastic crew and a number of animals recorded, including some new identifications for the expanding catalogue. The 100^th field survey took place with Lameroo Schools enjoying their 5^th annual KI Dolphin Watch experience on 28^th October with very different weather conditions! 28 field surveys have taken place in 2011 to date, with the amount of data awaiting editing and cataloguing expanding accordingly.

Lameroo Schools on Dolphin Watch on KI Marine Adventures at North Cape, Kangaroo Island

For unusual elements of Dolphin Watch there is probably nothing quite like the involvement of the students from Lameroo Schools in the Mallee region close to the South Australian – Victorian border. On their annual visit to Kangaroo Island these students from an inland farming district participate in field surveys to help collect data for the KI ID catalogue. For some students this is their first time on a boat, for others their first time at sea and for all it is a fantastic and fascinating experience. Their efforts at collecting data and images are always first rate and help immensely in overall research effort.

Over the 5 years of involvement, Lameroo teacher Maureen Steinborner has experienced it all, from mirror glass conditions to drenching rain, high winds and sloppy seas and the seasickness that invariably eventuates. The efforts of the students were highlighted in an Advertiser Newspaper article written by Education Now Editor Martina Simos last year following their visit. The innovative approach to Science education which Dolphin Watch provides had piqued her interest and it continues to arouse interest as a means of engaging students in this area of the curriculum in many educational sectors. Dolphin Watch stalwart KI Marine Adventures skipper Andrew Neighbour went out of his way, as in past years, to provide an exciting experience, demonstrating Hamilton stops and other thrilling manoeuvres with “Island Explorer”. Pete Nash, a professional photographer and long term Dolphin Watch volunteer, explained the unobtrusive techniques employed by Dolphin Watch, outlined the strategies involved in collecting data to the group and helped them refine their photographic capabilities. The group of students and accompanying adults, 24 in all, requiring use of a backup crayboat provided once again by local crayfisher Phil Robinson, was rewarded amply for their determined efforts with over 20 dolphins frolicking around the boat for an extended period.

Our grateful thanks once again to the Lameroo Schools and to all involved for their invaluable input to our research effort.

Andrew Inglis and Cecelia Woolford presenting the award to Tony Bartram

On Wednesday October 26th KI Dolphin Watch volunteers Tony and Phyll Bartram attended the 2011 Premier’s NRM and Landcare Awards at “The Observatory” in Adelaide. KI Dolphin Watch were presented with the Premier’s Natural Resources Management Finalist Award by Andrew Inglis; Presiding Member of the NRM Council and Cecelia Woolford; Chair of the NRM Volunteer Committee. The award recognised “outstanding contribution to the sustainable management of South Australia’s natural resources” in the category of Community Engagement. Sincere thanks to the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board for nominating the project and in particular Bev Maxwell for writing the submission, in acknowledgement of the outstanding efforts of KI Dolphin Watch students, volunteers and supporters.

Photograph courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Kids Teaching Kids Conference Team on a field survey October 19th 2011

Students from the three campuses of Kangaroo Island Community Education presented workshops to groups of 30 + students from all around Australia at the national River Health Conference in Adelaide last week.

Supported by teachers Jennie Teasdale and Dan Grieves, student leader and long term KI Dolphin Watcher Kaitlin Taylor of Kingscote led the team consisting of James and Belinda from Penneshaw Campus, Jorrelie and Ryan from Parndana Campus and Emily from Kingscote Campus, through the fantastic enriching experience these conferences provide.

The KICE students demonstrated the matching of photographs of individual dolphins’ dorsal fins to the KI Dolphin Watch ID catalogue and the complexities involved in using this unobtrusive but labour intensive technique, recording patterns of dolphin movement and behaviour, while also monitoring the habitat and recording environmental data. They also ran quizzes and games to raise awareness and expand knowledge about dolphins, which surprisingly are listed as data deficient on IUCN lists. Congratulations and thankyou to all concerned for your fantastic work!!!

http://www.kidsteachingkids.com.au/conferences/2for011-int-kids-teaching-kids-river

Common Dolphin washed up at Island Beach on KIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â June 3rd 2011

Success!! Great news just in. Fantastic that gill netting has been banned but what a pity a large number of mortalities had to occur before such an action was taken. The indefinite nature of the ban ensuring ongoing monitoring is particularly pleasing given the number of mortalities on Kangaroo Island recently. Let’s hope this action sees an end to these horrific deaths for these beautiful creatures.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/rise-in-dolphin-deaths-prompts-calls-for-permanent-fishing-ban/story-e6frea83-1226144935413

    Wildlife Australia Magazine                     Spring Edition Cover           Â

“Walking with Dolphins: Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch”

WILDLIFE AUSTRALIA Magazine – Spring 2011

A fantastic magazine doing amazing things for the environment and so well worth subscribing to. Thanks so much to Editor Saren Starbridge and staff for their support, enthusiasm and passion.

http://www.wildlife.org.au/magazine/editions/2011/spring/index.html

SA Whale Centre Volunteers at work

The latest Victor Harbor field surveys provided a mixed bag in terms of observations and experiences. The SA Whale Centre Volunteers’ survey, coordinated by Nedra Haines, saw research effort expanded from Encounter Bay, past the Bluff to Petrel Cove and Kings Beach without any dolphin sightings, until returning to Granite Island where 17 dolphins, including a number of calves, appeared and undertook a short period of interaction with supporter Dan Irvine’s “The Big Duck” and crew. All this and a Southern Right Whale and its calf off Shark Island on the way out – quite a thrill for all concerned. The students from Investigator College were not so lucky the following day in their field survey as the same course was covered through Petrel Cove then eastwards to Port Elliot without any si htings recorded. The datacollected the previous day became the central focus accordingly and a number of new animals were added to the catalogue which has now grown to over 50 animals.This is quite remarkable given the limited research effort to date and is an absolute credit to teacher Renee Drew, students and volunteers.