You can contribute to real scientific research without needing a lab coat or a PhD. Citizen science is an exciting way for everyday people to help scientists and university students collect data and make discoveries about our natural world. Here in Jervis Bay, we have an incredible opportunity to contribute to marine mammal research, especially when it comes to our beloved local population of bottlenose dolphins and the annual visitors, the humpback whales.
Through organisations like Marine Mammal Research and the Bay & Basin Citizen Science Club, you can take part in studies on dolphin populations, foraging behaviours, and more. We were lucky to attend a presentation by Scott Sheehan of Marine Mammal Research to the Bay & Basin Citizen Science Club on Wednesday 19 March.
Scott emphasised the importance of citizen science in understanding and protecting the marine life of Jervis Bay. “A lot of people who are interested in citizen science will possibly start as a volunteer, and that’s where you get some of the best sightings and the best knowledge,” said Scott, adding that he has worked on the Jervis Bay Wild tour boats, aided PhD researchers, and has been on the board of Jervis Bay Marine Parks – making him eminently qualified to give us an insight into the activities of a passionate citizen scientist!
Foraging Habits of Bottlenose Dolphins in Jervis Bay
Scott Sheehan shared fascinating insights into the foraging habits of Jervis Bay’s resident bottlenose dolphins. The dolphins use a variety of techniques to catch their prey, which is abundant in the Bay’s rocky reefs and seagrass meadows, their main foraging grounds.
Octopus handling is a foraging technique that Scott and his citizen science colleagues have witnessed and documented in Jervis Bay. “Not all of them do it,” Scott explained, “maybe 10 or 12 and the others follow. There’s a lot of moves that the younger ones will learn.”
When a dolphin has captured an octopus, it wraps itself around the dolphin’s rostrum – its snout. “They use their teeth to chew down on the prey, and the other dolphins who follow will pick off all the chunks,” says Scott. “These dolphins, they’re a little gang and they know where to pick off the octopus in the Bay.”
Another interesting foraging behaviour observed is their fishing activity in Currambene Creek. Scott explained, “When you see dolphins swimming around Currambene Creek, hang out and watch them, they are going to use the tide. They sit out in the front and the prey just comes out [of the creek on the tide] and they just open their mouths.”
He says most of the prey is baitfish and garfish at the mouth of the creek, while other fish that dolphins have been observed to eat in the Bay include salmon, trevally, snapper and even juvenile crabs.
Tail slapping and head slapping to stun prey, “snacking” to confuse fish and barrier feeding – herding fish up against a wall or a boat or wharf – are other foraging techniques the Jervis Bay dolphins use around the sea grasses, mangroves, deep reefs and tidal estuaries.
Jervis Bay is one of only a few locations along the east coast of Australia with a resident dolphin population. “We have about 57 resident dolphins, with an additional 118 transient individuals that come and go,” Scott stated. During February and March, the population swells with these visiting dolphins, but in winter, the numbers drop again. The bay serves as a safe nursery, with mothers giving birth between November and February. “It’s a safe area to breed and abundant in food to forage,” Scott noted, adding that environmental factors like food availability and habitat conditions play a crucial role in survival rates.
Upcoming Research Projects and How to Get Involved
Scott told the audience about new research initiatives planned for Jervis Bay, including a comprehensive dolphin population count. “We want to do it as a blanket project, all at the same time,” he explained. “That way, we won’t end up counting the same individuals on different days.” Volunteers will head out on a range of boats and craft to identify dolphins with unique fin markings, so researchers can track their movements and estimate population changes.
Citizen scientists can assist by submitting photos and observations. By sharing images with Marine Mammal Research, contributors help build a database that tracks individual dolphins over time.
How You Can Contribute as a Citizen Scientist
Becoming a citizen scientist doesn’t require any special training—just a keen eye and a willingness to document what you see. Scott encouraged attendees of the Bay & Basin Citizen Science Club meeting to participate in simple but valuable activities such as photography, logging dolphin sightings, and noting behavioural patterns. “Just walking along the beach and taking photos can provide important data,” he said. “If you see a dolphin, snap a shot, even if it’s not perfect.”
The Bay & Basin Citizen Science Club offers opportunities to get involved in local projects and network with like-minded individuals. Through partnerships with Marine Mammal Research, volunteers can join efforts in tracking dolphin populations, studying their feeding habits, and contributing to broader conservation goals.
By participating in citizen science, locals and visitors alike can play an active role in protecting Jervis Bay’s marine ecosystem. Whether through casual observations or structured research projects, every bit of data helps scientists better understand and safeguard this unique environment. For those interested in joining, visit Marine Mammal Research or the Bay & Basin Citizen Science Club to learn more about upcoming projects and volunteer opportunities.
