... We’re happy to share there are a couple new features in the app this year. Funding for ChesapeakeDolphinWatch.org was provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Some belong to the Northern Migratory Stock and others to the Southern Migratory Stock, which are separate populations as defined by the National Marine Fisheries … Tag your photos of dolphins to @dolphinwatch_cb on Instagram. Bottlenose dolphins are frequently spotted in the Chesapeake Bay during the summer with reports of them leaping in the air or bow riding boats. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation gives permission to academic institutions for these videos to be viewed for educational purposes. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science invites everyone who spends time on or near the Chesapeake Bay to report dolphin sightings with a new online tracking system. New features this year include a section where users can listen to dolphin calls recorded on underwater microphones in the Chesapeake Bay and a feature that allows dolphin watchers to upload a video of a dolphin sighting and view photos and videos of confirmed sightings. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Megafaunas such as bull sharks, tiger sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, and basking sharks and manta rays are also known to visit. The experts who track dolphins in our region say sightings are up 25% over last year. Volunteer. Fandel, Research Analyst with the Chesapeake Biological Lab has been investigating dolphin behavior as part of conservation efforts across the U.S. since 2012. There is a map where users can see all of the reported sightings and tap to report their own sighting. The more eyes we have on the water the better to report dolphin sightings. The Chesapeake Bay is home to more than 3,600 local and migratory species, among which is the charismatic, yet elusive bottlenose dolphin. However, very little is known about how often dolphins actually come into the Bay, how long they spend there, what areas of the Bay they are using and why. But then the underwater microphones the lab was experimenting with began picking up the tell-tale squeaks and clicks of dolphins foraging in the Chesapeake and its tributaries. She specializes in studying the movements of marine mammals. “Right now we have such scarce information. More information on the DolphinWatch program is available on the UMCES website. “We were hearing occasional reports of dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay, but we really didn’t have much information about where they are going and when,” said Bailey. As dolphin numbers increase, so does hope for a healthier Chesapeake Bay. As in the Chesapeake, there are populations of unknown size, maybe a few hundred dolphins, in such waterways as Biscayne Bay in Florida and Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. Alex DeMetrick reports, the discovery was made while scientists were doing a routing equipment check. Why are dolphins visiting the Bay and what does it mean for the Bay? It turns out hundreds of dolphins are making their way into the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers. Funding for Chesapeake DolphinWatch was provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Tracks Software, and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. | WYPR One of the reasons for their research is to try and figure out why there are so many dolphins in the Chesapeake. Join us as she shares where and when dolphins are being sighted and how you can help track their progress up the Bay. The Chesapeake DolphinWatch app allows users to mark the location of dolphin sightings on a map of the Chesapeake and its tributaries so scientists can better understand where they go. Bailey notes that changes in climate, improvements in water quality, and improvements in fish stocks upon which dolphins feed could be factors in a surge in dolphin sightings. Dolphin swam up on our boat while crabbing in a creek off the Choptank river in Maryland. However, very little is known about how often dolphins actually come into the Bay, how long they spend there, what areas of the Bay they are using and why. Bottlenose dolphins are frequently spotted in the Chesapeake Bay during the summer with reports of them leaping in the air or bow riding boats. More information on the Chesapeake DolphinWatch program and how to help is available at www.umces.edu/dolphinwatch. Now researchers in Maryland and Virginia are undertaking the first comprehensive studies of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay. “Whether you’re at home, whether you have a community pier, you live near the water, or you go out on the water, we need your eyes on the sea telling us where are the dolphins.”. Tag your photos of dolphins to @dolphinwatch_cb on Instagram. SOLOMONS, MD (JUNE 10, 2019)—The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Chesapeake DolphinWatch app is back for the 2019 summer season with new features, including the ability to upload videos of dolphins spotted on the bay by citizen scientists. &noscript=1"/>. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE  “People have been really excited to tell us about their sightings, but there was no easy way to report them before,” said Bailey. “Dolphins are very iconic, and they are in our backyard.”. Despite being the largest, and most populated estuary in the U.S., we know almost nothing about the area's bottlenose dolphins. First off, we’d like to thank you for your support of DolphinWatch by reporting your sightings, sending your images, and possibly even donating. However, very little is known about how often dolphins actually come into the Bay, how long they spend there, what areas of the Bay they are using and why. These dolphins are found mostly in warm, salty open waters, but visit the lower reaches of rivers and harbors. "We know they're a major fish predator, and that's probably what brings them into the Bay and the rivers," said Susan Barco, a research associate with the Virginia Marine Science Museum, who has studied bottlenose dolphins for … Within the Chesapeake Bay, there are different populations of dolphins. There is also an information page with responsible wildlife viewing guidelines and to learn more about dolphins and the Chesapeake Bay. 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