Happy New Year to everyone!
It's been a while since I last updated the blog, but both Ruth and I have been otherwise occupied (processing last year's data, doing our actual jobs, and finding funding to continue this project - research is an expensive exercise). But there is good news - we've managed to secure two sets of funding to continue the project into 2009 and beyond. We'll be expanding our goals slightly and are planning to be back in the field in mid-February. There are still a few issues that need sorting out and we need to be certain the funding will be available in time for the beginning of the field season, but it's all looking positive, and I'll be updating the blog more regularly again.
Unfortunately, several grant applications were unsuccessful (at least partly due to the recession) and at the moment it looks like we're not going to be able to get the hydrophones (C-PODs) we wanted that collect 24hour data on dolphin presence along the coast. The ones we used last year showed some really interesting and unexpected data and we hope we can find the funding to buy some before the winter field season. But at ~£1200 each, they're not cheap (and they also take several months to put together)!
There are a few other items of equipment that the project needs (other than the hydrophones mentioned above), so if you, or your company, would like to support the project - please get in touch with us.
