Free Dolphin Sighting App for Chesapeake

See a Dolphin? There's an app for that

Scientists from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science are asking Marylanders to report dolphin sightings in the Chesapeake Bay throughout the summer on the free dolphin sighting app. 

Whether from land or sea, porpoise spotters can download the free Chesapeake DolphinWatch app for iPhone and Android and report the time and location--and even upload a photo or video. See where dolphin sightings have been spotted in the Chesapeake Bay and add your own! 

Photo by Kevin MacDonald/ University of MD Center for Environmental Science

By tracking the occurrence of dolphins and their movements, scientists can gain a better understanding of how bottlenose dolphins use the Bay and how to protect them in our local waters.

"We'd like to increase people's awareness of the dolphins and collect data at the same time," said Helen Bailey, a scientist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. She specializes in studying the movements of marine animals. " Where you're at home, whether you have a community pier, you live near the water or you go out on the water, we need your eyes on the sea telling us where are the dolphins."

Photo by Carolyn Wilson/ University of MD Center for Environmental Science

Bottlenose dolphins are frequently spotting in the Chesapeake Bay summer. However, very little is known about how often dolphins actually come into the Bay, how long they spend there, what areas of the Bay they are using and why.

Click to the dolphinwatch page or dolphin FB page for details.