[CKF Info] spooked dolphins

Fri Apr 11 10:38:35 PDT 2008

Read:

Great observations! You're right, surprising a dolphin close to you,  
twice in a row, is rare. Could it be that the dolphins are being  
affected by some localized bacteria, virus or other single-celled  
creatures? Maybe their hearing has been adversely affected by sonar  
or other human-generated marine noise. Then again, they may just be  
distracted, by territorial sea lions or even by something you may not  
have seen. This time of year adult female great white sharks come  
relatively close to shore to give birth, perhaps that was a factor?  
I'd be curious to hear if anyone else is having similar encounters.

I myself have been off the water now for close to two months, due to  
family commitments, but I will be returning to the water within the  
next couple of weeks.

Sincerely,
Kevin Harris
sharkconspiracies.net

On Apr 11, 2008, at 9:08 AM, Read Shoemaker wrote:
>
> I’m in my kayak paddling out of Newport towards Big Arch Rock and  
> points beyond.  I see a couple of dolphins followed by a sea lion  
> closer to shore heading in the opposite direction.  My first  
> thought was how cute, the sea lion’s hanging out with the  
> dolphins.  Then the sea lion sees me and immediately changes  
> direction, heading straight for me with chest thrust forward and  
> head held high.  Damn!?!   I change my course to one I hope the sea  
> lion will find less threatening.  The sea lion submerges.  I  
> picture it speeding for me, a furry torpedo, intent on my  
> destruction.  I don’t really believe it’s going to attack me but  
> based on the behavior so far I can’t help but prepare myself for… 
> I’m not quite sure what…probably nothing.  And that’s what  
> happened.  Nothing.  But I did hear a breath being drawn astern a  
> couple of times and concluded I was being escorted out of the sea  
> lions territory just like the dolphins before me.
> Leaving my sea lion escort behind I continue my paddle and notice a  
> pair of dolphins swimming in the same direction as the last two but  
> further out to sea.   I see a couple of more off to my left.
> It’s not uncommon to see dolphins here.   But it’s uncommon enough,  
> and the animals are marvelous enough, to make each sighting a thrill.
> Then suddenly a lone dolphin surfaced barely a paddle length away.   
> So close it startled me.  But by executing a micro-quick change of  
> expression, when I realized it was just a dolphin up for air, I was  
> able to squeak out “hey buddy” instead of whatever kind of scream  
> had been in the course of erupting from deep down in my gut.
> Admittedly the dolphin gave me a bit of a start.  But when that  
> dolphin heard the sound of my voice saying “hey buddy” it literally  
> scared it so bad it looked like it wanted to jump right out of its  
> skin.  It was like I had snuck up behind it and yelled BOO!  That  
> poor thing wanted to be somewhere else NOW.   I laughed out loud!
> I’m sorry but it was funny.  I always had the impression you  
> couldn’t sneak up on a dolphin.   Dolphins have the super duper  
> sonar that can detect a hick-up from an anchovy fifty miles away.   
> Well this particular dolphin wasn’t paying attention.   I spooked  
> it good.
> Or maybe he was hearing from some of his buddies to watch out for  
> this aggressive sea lion?  Just as he gets news of some crazy sea  
> lion there I am saying “hey buddy” right behind his left ear.
> That was two weeks ago.  Then a couple of days ago I’m heading back  
> to Newport Harbor after a long paddle when I see a dolphin surface  
> for a breath, about fifty yards away, heading directly towards me.   
> I’m thinking I might, be about where it will surface for its next  
> breath.  So you would think when that is exactly what happened I  
> would be ready.  But it surfaced so close I let out a gasp and just  
> like last time, scared the hell out of the poor dolphin.
> I have paddled a lot of years without scaring a single dolphin.   
> Lately I seem to be terrorizing the neighborhood.
>
> Read Shoemaker
>
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