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The season 2001 has appeared to be even more
successful. The operation of the land observers and boat crew
was completely coordinated. Besides this we have planned our work
so that everyone was able to train in different aspects of cetacean
observations. As a whole, the day went approximately under the
uniform schedule: two observers armed with a radio and various
optical gadgets like binoculars, scopes and video cameras, mounted
on the top of the island. Photographer, bioacoustics, experienced
counter of marine mammals, driver and one of the observers loaded
into the boat with all indispensable instrumentation, reserve
of meal, water, films and tapes. Then the boat came close to the
cape, on which observers were placed, and the hunting started.
  
Observers were scanning a surface of the sea from above in searching
for orcas and tracked each group as long as it did not fade beyond
the horizon. They also watched merging and partitioning of groups,
type of activity of animals, reaction to transiting vessels. Their
aim was also to direct the boat close to group, because from the
surface it is possible to note orcas only in close proximity. When
the boat approached to whales, the photographer tried to photograph
all animals from the left side. The photography is conducted on
the move, the boat skips on a wave, animal appears from the water
only to a moment, and to catch it in a lens, not having fallen out
from the boat, is really a hard task. Driver must correctly approach
to the group and move together with animals on enough distance not
to alarm orcas, to hold course and velocity so that to follow them
and that did not flood by a wave expensive instrumentation and other
inventory and property. At this time counter should trace all animals,
define the structure of group, number of animals, describe type
of their behaviour. The role of the observer was to write the numbers
of films and groups, composition of groups and place of their occurring,
any visual features of exterior and behaviour of animals. When the
animals were photographed, the boat was stopped in order to record
sounds of the group.
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