The staff of the Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program has been studying the long-term resident dolphins of Sarasota Bay, Florida, since 1970, making this the world's longest-running study of a wild dolphin population, now in its 50th year!

A core component of the research involves regular, systematic photographic identification surveys, where teams go out on small boats through the home range of the resident dolphins to identify them from nicks and notches on their dorsal fins. Each survey team tries to see as many dolphins as possible over the boat's route, and document them photographically and on data forms. The more eyes searching and keeping track of them, the better - your help as part of a survey team will be much appreciated!

A copy of the dolphin "family photo album" will be onboard so we can try to identify the dolphins in real time from their fin markings. We will be going out on a 21 ft Parker center console boat with a 150 hp outboard engine, and a Bimini top.

We can accommodate up to 4 assistants on this trip. The boat will leave the dock at 9:00 am, and should return by about 2:00 pm, following lunch, depending on conditions, what we see, and when and where we see it.

Offer expires March 31, 2022 and is subject to availability.