02.07.2024 – Co-ordinated hunting

The waves of the ocean are in constant motion, an endless dance of rise and fall that has characterised the seas for thousands of years. In the midst of this spectacle of nature, dolphins and Cory’s shearwaters emerge to hunt in a fascinating symbiosis.

Dolphins, known for their intelligence and dexterity, use the power of the waves to their advantage. They ride the crests of the waves and use the momentum to glide through the water with ease. At these moments, the dolphins look like acrobatic dancers, hunting their prey effortlessly and with great elegance. Their preferred prey are schools of small fish, which they encircle and corner with skilful manoeuvres and coordinated hunting.

Cory’s shearwaters are skilful seabirds, joining the dolphins in this hunting community. These birds are masters of flying and diving. They observe the movements of the dolphins from the air and immediately recognise when the fish are pushed to the surface. They then swoop down into the water in precise dives to seize their prey.

The co-operation between dolphins and Cory’s shearwaters is an impressive example of natural coordination. While the dolphins drive the fish towards the surface, the shearwaters use the opportunity to secure their meals. This symbiotic relationship shows how different species utilise each other’s strengths to hunt successfully.

The waves play a central role in this. They not only provide the dolphins with the necessary momentum, but also ensure constant movement in the water, which disorientates the fish and makes them easier prey. While hunting, the dolphins glide through the waves, often accompanied by a rapid clicking and whistling that they use to communicate. These sounds help them to coordinate their positions and movements in order to efficiently encircle the school of fish. Circling in the air above them, the yellow-billed shearwaters watch their every move, ready to strike at the decisive moment.

These hunting scenes are not only an example of survival in nature, but also of the elegance and beauty that can lie within it. Dolphins and yellow-billed shearwaters show how different creatures can co-operate in harmony with the forces of nature. The waves, the dolphins and the yellow-billed shearwaters together create an impressive picture of wildness and grace that is hard to beat in its natural simplicity and efficiency.

On the midday tour we had Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). In the evening we saw Atlantic spotted dolphins and Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba).

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sichtungen des Tages

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Flying fish

13:30 Atlantic spotted doplphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted doplphins, Bottlenose dolphins

14:00 Atlantic spotted doplphins

17:00 Atlantic spotted doplphins, Striped dolphins