Dolphin Tales: Dolphin days in Pine Island Sound
Dolphin days in Pine Island Sound can be the best form of entertainment in the region, especially during this time of social distancing. We have a very stable, resident community of bottlenose dolphin in our area. Bands of females swim together while feeding, socializing and even babysitting for each other. Males form small foraging parties to school fish for their dinner. It’s not uncommon to see dolphins tossing the fish in the air and playing catch.
Dolphins reach adolescence between three and six years. We often see 15 to 20 young adolescents frolicking off of Burgess Island in Pine Island Sound just north of Useppa Island. They form playgroups, just as humans do. The males will court the females and soon mating begins. Once the female becomes pregnant, she will go back to her mother. Females give birth to one calf every two to three years. The gestation period is 11 months while in the manatee it is 13 months.
Males come and go and develop tight bonds with other males for many years and even for life. We see pairs of males that swim together in tandem, movement for movement. They fish together, protect each other from other aggressive, competing dolphins and, of course, court females together.
Capt. Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in our local waters. As a professional charter captain she specializes in dolphin and nature tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or call 239 994-2572.