The 2016 field season got off to a windy start this year ... low-pressure system after low-pressure system in the aptly named roaring 40s to the south of Australia have meant the infamous ‘sausage highs’ over Shark Bay and the associated howling sou-easters. So much for the magnificent ‘May in the Bay’!

However, the team was well and truly ready to roll when the first lull appeared. We scored four days, or part there-of, in a row, and made data collection happen while the sun shone.

It's been a great opportunity to trial new kit, including the Allsopp Helikite with GoPro  that is attached to the boat with flying line, and flown at 30m elevation.  This will really help our focal follows of male alliances, giving us a much better idea of what's going on spatially between the animals, and helping with the acoustic localisation from our hydrophone array.

With more good weather on the horizon the team are looking forward to getting back out on the water....


See www.sharkbaydolphins.org for the latest blog on the Dolphin Innovation Project's and The Dolphin Alliance Project's kick off in the western gulf of Shark Bay.