The following report from Mike Foster at Pimlico State High School in Townsville makes for very interesting reading! The enriched scientific oversight which Lars Bejder brings is fantastic. The Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins, like the Australian Snubfins are endangered and the students research work is extremely beneficial contributing to their conservation an alerting the community to the threats posed by human activity. Congratulations and well done to everyone involved in this exciting project!

MARINE STUDENTS DOLPHIN SPOTTING
Boating training took on an added importance this year for Marine Practices Students. With the help of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society through Ian Potter Foundation funding and Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch, students have commenced collecting data of dolphin sightings while boating. The Ian Potter Foundation generously provided funding for the purchase of equipment including cameras and hydrophones. Tony and Phyll Bartram from Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch also presented their expertise and enthusiasm for the project. This will be an ongoing part of the Marine Practices course. Sightings will be recorded and collated as part of an investigation into where and when dolphins use Cleveland Bay. Students will then present their findings in their reports for assessment. Each year’s results will be aggregated to build a data base of local dolphin populations. A pod of three dolphins, two adults and one juvenile, were spotted on the first day and two on the second. All were humpback dolphins – a species that favours waters close to sea grass beds and waters around 4 – 5m deep. Photographic evidence collected on the day has been verified by Dr Lars Bejder at the Cetacean Research Unit, Centre for Fish, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystem Research at Murdoch University in WA.

A very special Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch volunteer after her first magical experience on a recent dolphin monitoring survey, created this amazing and powerful global message.

Please help by sharing far and wide! Our love and gratitude to dear Sharon Zealand and heartfelt thanks to John Farnham for being OUR VOICE. XOX

“Share if you love dolphins”
you are the voice
www.youtube.com
a small group of dedicated citizens can make a world of difference.

Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch commenced Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch in April 2011 with SA Whale Centre volunteers and Investigator College staff and students. Operating collaboratively with Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch with NRM Community Grant funding, it has achieved extraordinary outcomes through successful regional cooperation. Through involvement and support of “Friends of the SA Whale Centre”, a site-based network undertaking regular observations, underpinning boat-based field surveys has been established. It will yield much needed data regarding frequency and range of movements and connectivity. As dolphins in the region are at risk due to human impact and intensive boating activity, development of public awareness and community education is an imperative.

The Friends of the South Australian Whale Centre is a hard working enthiastic Community group dedicated to supporting marine and Cetacean conservation in South Australia. The group engages in a range of social and fundraising activities, and raises awareness of current research and conservation efforts. To support the Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch project the Friends of the SA Whale Centre launched an exciting local Adopt a Dolphin Programme in June 2012, which is going from strength to strength.

Cost of the adoption is $20 per annum, for which participants receive an adoption certificate and a photo of the dolphin selected via electronic transfer, with emailed updates throughout the year on the dolphin’s activities. Hard copies of photos and certificates are available for an extra $10 to cover printing, postage and handling.

Dolphins up for adoption from the Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch catalogue are 001 Flap, 007 Scapa, 008 Sushi, 009M Bob, 011 Tango, 024M Neptune, 026 Katie Marie and 070 Pip.

For further information and an Adopt a Dolphin form please visit www.friends.sawhalecentre.com, email friends@sawhalecentre.com vhdolphins@bigpond.com or phone 0400724762.

Congratulations, well done and thankyou Nedra Haines and the Friends of the SA Whale Centre!!

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.