DATE: Wednesday, November 12, 1997          TAG: 9711120501

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL CLANCY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   67 lines

DOLPHIN SPECIALISTS HOPE 3 MOMS, 3 BABIES MIGRATE SOON

Tuesday morning at breakfast, Jo-Ann Williams looked out at the shimmering gray surface of Linkhorn Bay and saw a disturbance in the water. ``Oh my goodness,'' she said to her husband, ``I think there are dolphins out there.''

``We've been back here for 27 years and never seen anything like that,'' said Edward Williams, her husband. The couple lives on the western shore of the bay near Laskin Road.

A few hours later, observers in a Virginia Marine Science Museum boat found themselves in the midst of three full-size dolphins and their babies - six in all - feeding enthusiastically near the confluence of Linkhorn Bay and Little Neck Creek off Bird Neck Point.

``It's never happened before, that this many dolphins have stayed around this long,'' said Mark Swingle, a curator at the museum and head of its stranding team.

``I wonder what they're chasing,'' said Susan Barco, a marine mammal specialist at the museum, clicking away with her camera.

``I don't know, but they're definitely feeding,'' answered Swingle.

The bottlenose dolphins rose and dove in pairs, occasionally approaching the boat to investigate. The youngsters popped to the surface like corks while the mothers rolled gracefully on the placid water, gray dorsal fins slicing the surface.

The marine science team identified one of the pairs as the Broad Bay Dolphin, or ``Broad Bay Mom,'' as they're now calling her, and the calf she bore in July. The other two pairs have slightly older offspring, perhaps a year old or just under.

The mom, pregnant at the time, spent last winter in Broad Bay, which connects with Linkhorn, ignoring the instinct that most other dolphins heed to migrate south during colder weather. Fortunately, it was a mild winter and she had plenty to eat.

The question now is, will she stay again? And will the others keep her company?

That's a real concern to scientists who fear the marine mammals could suffer from extreme cold and even be trapped if ice forms. They're hoping Broad Bay Mom and her baby will follow their new companions and swim to safety within the coming weeks.

``I can't imagine all six of them staying around,'' said Barco. She pointed out that the mothers are still nursing. Unlike last winter when the single dolphin had only herself to feed, the mothers will need a rich supply of food to keep their babies healthy.

Volunteer Bob Marchant, also along to check the dolphins, did a temperature check: 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The water ranges from about 80 degrees in summer to 40 in winter.

As the dolphins roiled the water, a dozen gulls dove for the fish that had been chased to the surface.

It's getting late in the year, the observers said, but lots of other dolphins have been reported lingering in places like the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay as far north as Baltimore.

The food supply, including spot, croaker, blue fish and striped bass, is plentiful and there aren't many pleasure boats to contend with. But how long will it last? ``These guys are getting way too familiar with this area,'' Swingle said.

Williams suggested, ``When there's lots of food, it's hard sometimes to push yourself away from the table.'' ILLUSTRATION: CHARLIE MEADS/The Virginian-Pilot

A female dolphin and her calf swim in Linkhorn Bay in Virginia Beach

Tuesday. In all, six dolphins were seen feeding. Marine mammal

specialists hope the dolphins migrate soon in order to avoid winter

temperatures.

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