The annual Mid-Atlantic Coastal Dolphin Count occurs in July every year with volunteers counting dolphins for two hours on a Saturday morning throughout the region.

Volunteers place a sighting marker (a stick painted red on the end) in the sand near the water and count the number of dolphins that pass by.

In addition to counting dolphins, the volunteers, assigned to posts all along the Maryland and Delaware coast, also note the weather conditions, water conditions, the direction of travel of the dolphins they see, human activity in the area, the number of newborn dolphin calves, or Neonates, vessel activity, and other possible factors such as fish and bird activity.

Photo: Trying to peer through the mist and fog during the 1996 dolphin count at Fenwick Island State Park.

Links:
The National Aquarium in Baltimore
Dolphin Count Press Release