Dolphins Playing with Leaves

Dolphins enjoy playing with leaves that people bring for them.

Dolphins play with various leaves throughout the world.  Seaweed, coconut fronds, lauhala, and here in Hawaii an almond trees large colorful leaves.  After sonaring the leaves closely, the dolphins pick up chosen ones with their fins,  The leaves may be draped on the dolphin's rostrum, dorsal, pectoral, or tail fins.

Dolphins may carry the leaves for miles.  Or they will shrug the leaves from one fin to another. If they drop off a leaf another dolphin may come behind and pick it up.

 

 

The dolphins also drop off leaves in front of people in the water. They wait to see what the person may do. Sometimes, if the person dives to take the leaf, the dolphin flies in first in a game of 'keep away'.

 

 

 

Dolphins will also pick up plastic bags, fishing line, rope, and other garbage that doesnt belong floating in the sea.

Humpback Whales in Hawaii 2013

Baby Humpback Whales Born in Hawaii along Kona Coast

Young whales are quite curious and spyhop to look around them.  Babies have a creamy white underside.

Winter 2013 has been a fabulous season, with daily sightings of newborns and mother humpback whales.

Everyday we have seen whales while boating right along the Kona Coast.  Young whales are gaining strength by breaching, head slapping, tail slapping, and swimming swiftly alongside mom.

Whales are identified by patterns in the color of the underside of their tail flukes.  Some are almost all black, some are almost all white, and most are some combination and pattern of black and white.

 



We can also discern individuals by the shape of their dorsal fins.

Humpback Whales frequent Hawaiian waters from November to April, but the main whale time is from January 15 to March 30th.  Come see us then!