Whales and Dolphins of the Moray Firth!

Welcome to the new blog to cover the Reed Elsevier 2008 environmental awareness project in conjunction with EarthWatch :-)

This year we are off to the North of Scotland to visit the whales and dolphins of the Moray Firth.

You can read all the details about the expedition here - http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/exped/robinson.html - but I have posted a short summary below.

On The Expedition

Working with Robinson and his colleagues from the Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU), you will take to the Moray Firth in 5.4-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boats to conduct systematic surveys of the southern Firth. You will be trained to spot and identify whales and dolphins and to record data such as the composition and structure of groups, their behavior, and geographic positions. You will also take photographs for individual identification. Back at the lab, especially during inclement weather, you will help identify individuals from photographs, catalogue images, and enter data. Your team may also be called upon to help with live whale or dolphin strandings, as the need arises. In your recreational time, there are rare seabird colonies, coastal wildflowers, castles, and Pictish ruins to investigate.

The trip will take place between 31st May and 7th June and, subject to network access, I will try and blog the news from the trip in "real time" during the week.

Hopefully we'll be able to share some pictures and video as well.