THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608040053
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL CLANCY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 79 lines
Saturday was not much of a day for swimming or boating, but it was perfect for dolphin counting.
``Oh, look, there's a tail slap!'' exclaimed Aimee Rockefeller, an Old Dominion University biology major. ``Wow! A big school! One, two, three, four
Like more than 100 other volunteers and staff members from the Virginia Marine Science Museum, the would-be veterinarian kept her eyes trained on the placid gray ocean as dozens of bottlenose dolphins cruised the Virginia Beach shoreline.
The observers planted small green tomato stakes in the sand, then counted every dolphin that passed that point from 8 a.m. to noon.
The official count, never more than a guess, won't be available until the tallies from about 40 stations spread along the coastline from Maryland to North Carolina can be analyzed. Four boats were also used as participants scoured the ocean during the count, now in its fourth year.
``It's still real early,'' said Mark Swingle, assistant curator of the museum, who directed the survey. ``My perception is it was a good day for sighting.''
Added marine biologist Susan Barco, who rode one of the boats to the North Carolina line: ``There have been some changes along the coast this year.
``We hope to see if there are changes in the dolphins' presence as well. We think it's a good idea to keep an eye on their population.''
Dolphin counting became a science along Virginia beaches after hundreds of the marine mammals mysteriously washed up dead in 1987 and 1988. Determined to know their habits, migration patterns and relative numbers, the museum linked with other coastal states to find out.
During the migration season from April to October, Virginia Beach has one of the highest dolphin concentrations on the East Coast.
The counters, equipped with beach chairs, binoculars, clipboards and No. 2 pencils, counted until noon - just before dark skies unleashed heavy rain. The lack of boaters, especially jet skiers, improved the chances of seeing the elusive mammals.
``I've always loved dolphins - their intelligence and beauty,'' Rockefeller said at her post near 64th Street.
``Ultimately, we all do it because we love the animals and care about their welfare. We'd like to see them stay for a while.''
Aimee's mother, Jackie Daley, a Lake Taylor High School administrator, said ``I enjoy the animals. I'd do this full time if they let me.'' ``I don't think they'd need you to do this full time,'' her daughter said.
``In a perfect world they would,'' said Daley.
Especially important this year was the number of ``neonates,'' the young born a few months ago.
At 8:06 a.m., an entry in the log book of Jana Eggleston, another watcher at 64th Street: ``Mother and neonate surfaced as a group. Dorsal to dorsal after leaving sighting area. Neonate viewed clearly as smaller, a little darker, playing.''
Pelicans and terns dove for breakfast, a sign that feeding dolphins might also be present. A few people swam in the surf. A pair of dogs stopped by to observe the observers and sniff their marker stakes.
At 89th Street, Bill and Barbara Dieffenbach took their volunteer job seriously.
``I suppose the more we learn about dolphins the more we learn about ourselves,'' Barbara Dieffenbach said. ``We're part of nature, despite what technology tries to tell us.''
About 100 yards away, at a backup observation spot, Jean Skipper, a graphic designer, made a similar observation: ``I believe that whatever happens to the ocean will eventually happen to us.''
The dolphins arrived and departed in spurts. By 9 a.m., the 64th Street contingent logged 35. One group at 89th Street counted 41 from 9 a.m. to 9:30, but fewer from 8 to 9. Sometimes, the dolphins would approach the sight line, then turn and depart.
Exact or not, serious dolphin-watching can be fun. Said Rebecca Bloom, a museum employee, at her post near the Harbormaster House on Fort Story, ``When the first group came through, we were jumping around like little kids.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
VICKI CRONIS/The Virginian-Pilot
Dolphin counters were stationed along the Oceanfront on Saturday,
keeping track of how many they saw in a few hours at a given spot. by CNB