200 Dolphins Spotted In Long Island Sound
By PIERRE BONNY | wpix.com

June 29, 2009
BAYVILLE, N.Y. (WPIX)—
A group of about 200 dolphins that were first spotted in Wednesday in Cold Spring Harbor have split into two groups. One group of dolphins swam to City Island in the Bronx while the other group traveled to the Long Island Sound near the town of Bayville.

The dolphins were spotted about a half-mile off the coast, near Oak Neck Point and Rocky Point in Bayville according to an official in the town of Oyster Bay. Charles Bowman, president of The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, said the dolphins are hunting and appeared normal. Bowman said they most likely have split into multiple groups to continue looking for herring.

Bowman has said boaters near the mammals were told to observe the dolphins from a distance. He said by law people and boats must stay 150 feet away from any marine marine mammals - for the safety of both animals and humans.

The presence of the dolphins could be a positive sign. Bowman said that if the dolphins are hunting in the Sound, it could mean that the water is cleaner. He added that the dolphins could potentially remain around Long Island waters for weeks. "It all depends on the food," Bowman said. "As long as there is food around, they are happy."