Common Dolphins in the East River…in February?
Last week, the Instagram algorithm served me a video from a page called @gothamwhale, which showed dolphins in the East River, gleefully leaping and swimming about without a care in the world. Like most people would be, I was surprised and slightly concerned. Are they supposed to be here in New York City? Is there ample forage for them to survive through the cold winter months? That’s when I remembered a separate video that made rounds on the interwebs just two years ago.
In January of 2023, several Brooklynites spotted and recorded a pair of dolphins swimming in Newtown Creek—a murky, highly-polluted waterway that carves its way between the neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Long Island City. That video, according to the Newtown Creek Alliance, marked the first time dolphins had been spotted in the Brooklyn tributary since 2010. It is astonishing to see them in such an industrialized, urban area, especially amid the depths of winter.
Upon further research, it would appear New York City may have its own (small) resident population of common dolphins. Over the past 4 years, there have been a handful of reports of dolphins in the East River, and even in the nearby Bronx River.
Here is the video from Newtown Creek in January 2023:
The following is a collection of videos and photos documenting recent dolphin sightings in the East River, shared by Gotham Whale:
If you don’t follow the Gotham Whale on Instagram, I highly recommend checking out their page and website. The 501c3 organization—founded by Paul Sieswerda in 2009—is a non-profit based in Staten Island that aims to study, educate, and advocate for marine mammals around New York City. When large schools of menhaden invade New York Harbor each year, even humpback whales will swim beneath the Verrazzano Bridge to feed in the harbor. As one can imagine, this not only puts them in harms way due to endless boat traffic, it poses a hazard to smaller vessels like commuter ferries and fishing charters. But the whales were here first, and, like the dolphins, it would appear they’re here to stay no matter what season it is.
To learn more about the Gotham Whale and how you can get involved with their advocacy work, visit their website to become a member or donate.
» To share your own NYC marine mammal sightings with Gotham Whale, send photos or videos (including the date, time, and location of documentation) to research@gothamwhale.org.
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Source: https://onthewater.com/common-dolphins-in-the-east-river-in-february
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