These dolphins have earned the nickname “cosmopolitans.”
This summer, boaters and kayakers are having the rare joy of watching Bottlenose Dolphins against the backdrop of New York City’s skyline. What’s considered a unique experience might soon be more routine.
Recently, around 20 pods of these dolphins—genuinely a “cosmopolitan” species of the Delphinidae family—delighted ferry passengers on Staten Island, performing acrobatics near the Upper Bayshore Line.
“It was incredible! I saw them jumping—oh my gosh!” exclaimed Nicole Shaw, a deckhand for Big Apple Waters who has ten years of experience under her belt.
“I quickly grabbed my phone to record, and it got even better when we got close,” Shaw said. “I’ve never seen Bottlenose Dolphins here like that.”
“That’s definitely not the usual view we have in New York Harbor.”
Kayakers report that one prime spot for dolphin-watching lies between Governor’s Island and Ellis Island.
Dolphins aren’t entirely rare in New York waters, but sightings like the recent Bottlenose pods are generally uncommon. Not long ago, such dolphins were rarely spotted in the area.
According to Chris St. Lawrence from the Gotham Whale, this uptick in sightings is tied to both cleaner waters and rising temperatures.
“It’s twofold. We’re seeing changes in our ecosystem, but also finding places where these animals can thrive,” St. Lawrence shared. “New York City has made significant strides in cleaning its waters, and we’ve seen larger fish returning.”
“The dolphins bidding goodbye to the ocean might be following the food sources in the harbor, which keeps them healthy and happy. While it’s not typical to see them here, it’s becoming more expected due to recent changes.
The Gotham Whale received anecdotal reports of Bottlenose Dolphins throughout July, but just in the past couple of weeks, they’ve had five significant sightings, including photos.
Eva Livlyn from the New York City Water Trail Association reported one sighting when a group of kayakers spotted a dolphin about a mile north of her location and then shared their find with others.
“We were moving slowly, scanning for fins, and then we saw some about 200 yards ahead,” she recalled. “We were lucky to catch a glimpse of a couple before they swam past us.”
“This is actually the first time I’ve seen them in the Hudson,” she said. “I’ve caught glimpses in other spots before, but this feels really special.”
Many sightings have also come from Brooklyn Bridge Park, where two Bottlenose Dolphins are already familiar to local kayakers.
The best viewing areas seem to be between Governor’s Island and Ellis Island.
“I see them often when I kayak in Florida, but this is only the second time in eight years I’ve spotted them here,” noted Joagraham’s grand sair, who manages a Brooklyn sailing organization with his brothers.
“We were just sailing, being quiet, and then I spotted them. I was the first to see,” he said. “There weren’t many boats around, so we had a calm moment before I managed to capture some video.”
“They looked happy and healthy.”
