‘Dolphin Whisperer’
Island charter captain Eagle shares experiences on the water with Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife
Introduced as the “Dolphin Whisperer,” Cathy Eagle was invited to share her many experiences as a charter tour captain with the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife at Rotary Park in Cape Coral Tuesday, May 13.
Having had over 40 years’ experience exploring the local waterways, including Matlacha Pass, Pine Island Sound, Boca Grande Pass and Captiva Pass, Eagle said her tours focus on dolphins and the diverse natural environments of the region. This free event, which was open to the public, brought in a number of folks interested in learning more about our local waterways and their inhabitants.
“Thermo-regulation is how the dolphins are able to regulate their body temperature. In fact, manatees have to migrate because they are not able to thermo-regulate their body temperature. Once their temperature gets above 78 degrees, they have to flee, that’s why they migrate. The dolphin, however, are able to release heat through their extremities such as their pectoral and their dorsal fins as well as their bellies,” Eagle said.
Interestingly, the body temperature of dolphins stays between 96.8 and 98.6, the same as human beings, she said.
Another fascinating fact she brought up in her presentation was the unihemispheric sleep ability of dolphins. This is the ability to allow rest or sleep on one side of the brain while the other remains awake and alert. This ability is shared by humans to some degree, where it is called the first night effect, because humans may experience a form of asymmetrical sleep during the first night in a new environment, where one hemisphere may be in shallower sleep, potentially for increased vigilance. Dolphins have to have half their brain awake to trigger them to surface and breathe, she said.
Eagle admits she is continuing to learn yet and is often amazed by the enormity of all there is to learn about the local water inhabitants.
“These creatures are so fascinating. Now, when I get out on the boat, I think about the challenge of finding them and the fact that we are only visiting their world. When I’m out on the water and nothing has surfaced for a while I know there’s a lot going on under the water that we cannot see. We’re just fortunate enough to be cruising along when we get a glimpse of them,” Eagle said.
Knowing more about the things which fill the life of local aquatic animals has become a major priority in her life, she said. These are things which one cannot learn from merely watching them on the surface, Eagle reasons. Dolphins are both sociable and loyal, she said, as the dolphins will follow the leader of their pod, keeping close to those with whom they share bonds. Dolphins use the sense of touch often as a strong mechanism of bonding such as in the play often shared by males.
“They need community to survive, that’s why they touch. They’re always touching each other with their pectoral fins. They’re rubbing up against each other. That touch is a very strong bonding tool for them. In a male alliance, their movements will sometimes be in sync, almost like they’re twins. You will even see them bumping each other with their fins or with their heads as they ride along. It’s a very important activity, used to solidify their bonds. Their lives seem to be very complex socially,” Eagle said.