A Jubilation of Dolphins

Johnstone Strait – September 10, 2012
We are underway, heading south in Johnstone Strait when I spot a line of black-tipped ripples a mile or so ahead of us. I take the binoculars and go forward to the bow. The cry on deck goes out: Pacific White-sided dolphins ahead! They are hunting in a long line that moves back and forth from east to west across the Strait. It looks like a dolphin parade except we can’t tell who is the drum major. Every so often the entire line changes direction, presumably when the fish they are herding and feeding upon changes direction. We estimate that there are well over 200 dolphins, maybe 300. They must hear our engine, because suddenly they all turn north and swim to greet us. Boat meets dolphins and they turn in our direction, sometimes leading, sometimes following along, making us part of their play. We are surrounded by the sounds of rushing water against dorsal fin as each dolphin surfaces and submerges just long enough to emit a short “Pifft” sound of moist exhalation and inhalation before submerging again at speed. Cliques of three or four or five of them at a time race in either side of our bow wake, jockeying and bumping each other to see if one of the others is having more fun. Occasionally one will turn onto its side, displaying the characteristic white patch along its lean, rubbery torso, one intelligent eye looking up to see us as we peer down. They swim along with us, speeding up to go ahead, or slowing down to drop back and give someone else a chance in the exhilarating turbulence of the bow wake. Every so often one of them leaps completely out of the water, sometimes arcing gracefully back in to the water, sometimes slapping down tail-first with a loud smacking sound, sometimes rolling sideways in mid-air to land with a huge splash, apparently all for the sheer joy of it.

They seem to be the happiest of creatures with their sleek, flexible bodies and humorous, school-boy antics. Finally, after having run along with us for a couple of miles, the dolphins, with their notoriously short attention span, decide to return to fishing. As quickly as a thought, they turn north, and we are watching their dorsal fins recede behind us. We call out our goodbyes and thank them for joining us for a while. I have read that a gathering of crows is called a “murder,” and that a group of geese is called a gaggle. Perhaps this vibrant mass of playful, joyous creatures should be called a “jubilation of dolphins.” (See a brief video by clicking on the arrow below.)