Great Neck was treated to a rare sight after a pod of coastal bottlenose dolphins made an appearance off the coast of the Village of Kings Point Sunday, August 7 at approximately 5 p.m.
In the area between Hart Island and Steppingstone Lighthouse, dolphins circled, came up to the surface, grouped together and broke away into smaller groups.
One to two dozen fins could be seen and as many as 50 dolphins came up to the surface.
The aquatic mammals continued jumping up and diving back into the water in two big groups and four smaller ones, before heading east en masse.
“We weren’t seeing large groups like this in the long island sound until recently,” said Kimberly Durham, rescue program director for the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation.
She said the first reports of bottlenose came in August 5. They have also been spotted in Cold Spring Harbor, Hempstead Harbor, and Port Jefferson.
Anecdotal reports indicate dolphins were common in the Long Island Sound 40 or 50 years ago. The species is found in temperate and tropical waters around the world, but over the last few decades has not ventured farther north than New Jersey.
The pod has spent two weeks in the Sound. Two years ago, a group of coastal bottlenose dolphins spent about a week off Long Island, while last year brought scattered sightings.
“It’s something that we are hoping to see more of,” Durham said, explaining they are probably following their food source, which is a good sign for the health of the Long Island Sound.
Biologists do not yet know whether this is the same pod that was spotted two years ago, or if it is a pod that can normally be found farther south, where they exist in “fairly large numbers.”
Dolphins are identified by scars on their dorsal fin, but Riverhead staff have not been able to perform needed research due to inclement weather and lack of opportunity. The biologists need immediate notification of sightings so they can get on scene quickly.
“One of the things we would love to do is an aerial survey, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating,” she said. “We haven’t been able to get in the water to take photos of the individuals. We’ve getting a lot of after the fact calls.”
She said Long Island waters are “really good” for viewing sea turtles. Increasingly seen in and around New York City are whales and gray seals, including one that has “decided to hang out up the Hudson River.”
“We’ve never really had that situation before,” she said. “He looks fat. He seems great.”
She said his chosen location could be explained by his youth.
“He could just be dumb and young,” she said. “That could explain everything.”
It is illegal to harass marine mammals, including by swimming with dolphins. Harassment is defined as any action which changes the behavior of the animals.
“If they approach you, cut your engines and enjoy the show,” she said. “I keep telling people, if you want them to stick around, watch them from a distance, and let us know so we can get out there to see them.”
To report a sighting of a healthy, sick, alive or dead marine mammal or sea turtle, call Riverhead’s emergency hotline number at (631) 369-9829.
