24.07.2026 – A Question Worth Asking: Why Kill Whales?
July 30, 2026
Today we witnessed a large pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) with some Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis). They were having a feast as they were busy hunting some flying fish (Cheilopogon melanurus).
Both the birds and dolphins can work together to herd the fish at the surface. Dolphins employ a variety of foraging techniques during daytime and nighttime. They can hunt on the sea floor and dig into the sand to locate their prey hiding underneath. They also cooperate with other individuals in the group to herd schools of fish into tight balls and communicate continually with clicks and whistles while doing so. Their diet is diverse and they tend to feed mostly at night. To track their prey, dolphins use echolocation. It is a biological sonar system where dolphins emit high-frequency clicks. The sound waves travel through the melon (fatty organ in their forehead) and bounce off of objects of interest. It aids in navigation and hunting in low light and low visibility environments.
This is really a unique skill !
By Juliette Colançon
Sightings of the day
Ribeira brava
09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins
Steno
09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Loggerhead turtle
