The Life of A Bottlenose Dolphin

By Brandon Brun

There are many beautiful living things under the sea, in rivers, and in lagoons. There are many different types of fish, invertebrate, plants, and other living things. One of these things is the Bottlenose dolphin. This is a very friendly dolphin, which is also very playful. You may see them at the surface of the water getting air or leaping out of the water while it plays. Bottlenose dolphins like to jump out of the water and splash. Bottlenose dolphins are very curious animals so they come around humans and boats to look at what we are doing. Bottlenose dolphins are not endangered animals, but humans do harm them. There are many bottlenose dolphins in the world and the exact number is not known. These dolphins like to live in warmer waters and lagoons. Places that have many fish. If you watch the water closely you might see one. Many times they are splashing in the water and playing in the waves. They really like to play and they like to show off. These are very interesting animals and they are very smart. Many Scientist like to study the way they communicate with each other and how they live. They have their very own language. I am going to tell you a little bit about them. I hope you enjoy my report because I had a lot of fun writing it and learning all about the Bottlenose Dolphin.

Chapter 1: The Characteristics of a Bottle Nose Dolphin
A Bottlenose Dolphin is a mammal and not a fish. It is a light gray color and it has some pink colors on its belly. The Bottlenose Dolphin has a short nose that looks like a bottle and its forehead is called the melon. The eyes of this dolphin are close to the corner of the mouth and the ears are small holes right behind the eyes. Bottlenose Dolphins have teeth made to hold the food, not to chew it. They swallow their food whole. When they lose teeth, they do not grow back. It has a curved fin in the center of its back. It can grow between 8 and 12 feet. The boys are usually bigger than the girls are. The Bottlenose dolphin’s skin feels and looks rubbery, and it has no hair. The skin is very thick. It is very smooth and this helps it to swim very fast so that it can catch up with all of the little fish and to run away from predators. Close to the fin, there is a blowhole. The dolphin breathes through this when it comes up for air. The Bottlenose Dolphin has to come up for air every fifteen minutes or it will drown. This is one of the reasons that we see them so often at the surface. It is very neat that these dolphins breathe the air like us, but they live under the sea.

Chapter 2: Environment
Bottlenose Dolphins live in many different places, except for the very cold water in the Arctic Ocean. Their habitat is mostly depending on the temperature. They do not like the very cold water. They live in mostly live in bays, lagoons, and gulfs. Some live in the Indian Ocean and also in the Pacific Ocean. You can find many Bottlenose Dolphins in the water of the Atlantic Ocean. In the State of Florida, you can see them in the rivers and the ocean. These Dolphins like to be in this water because there are many little fish for them to eat. Dolphins need to eat many fish and the warm water makes it easier to find them. The more fish that there is in the water, the more dolphins you will have. They can also be in the rivers and lagoons in these areas. They will follow fish wherever they go. Many times you will see dolphins swimming in the rivers that connect to the ocean. There are many places that you can find these types of dolphin and people enjoy seeing them.

Chapter 3: The Diet of a Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphins eat mostly small fish and squid. They find their meals by using echolocation. When they use echolocation, they send out sound waves that bounce off things. This lets them see large schools of fish. A school of fish is a big group of fish that are swimming together. Adult bottlenose dolphins eat approximately 4% to 6% of their weight in food per day. A Bottlenose Dolphin mom who is feeding a baby dolphin needs to eat more than 6%. Since these dolphins need to eat so much in a day they are awake for many hours in a day. Only one-half of their brain sleeps at one time, this lets them stay alert so that they can find the food they need to survive. Bottlenose Dolphins go wherever the fish go so they can eat them. Sometimes they use their fins to throw them into the air then catch it with their mouth. Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins also can eat small invertebrates from the bottom of the water. It is very important that a bottlenose dolphin is living somewhere with many fish so that it can survive. Sometimes it is very hard for them to find food because the fisherman takes all of the fish out of the water. They even take the small fish that they do not use so that the Dolphins do not have anything to eat. In areas where there are lots of fish, there are also a lot of Bottlenose Dolphins.

Chapter 4: Communication with Other Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins have their own language. These dolphins can recognize each other because of their whistling and clicking sounds. They use whistling and clicking sounds to communicate with each other, it is their very own language. Baby Bottlenose Dolphins and their Mother’s can recognize each other’s noises. Sometimes dolphins in a group whistle at the same time to scare away a predator or get something’s attention. They use whistles and clicks to find objects. The sound bounces off objects and comes back to the dolphin. This helps them to find large schools of fish and to see where predators are hiding. Dolphins also use body language to communicate. They butt each other with their heads and nudge each other with their bodies. Dolphins are very playful. They like to play many games with each other. Sometimes they jump out of the water and they chase each other. They are very social animals. They bump each other with their heads and bodies, and this is a way to tell each other something. Dolphins communicate in many ways with their sounds and their actions. The sounds they make are also for finding food under the water. The loud squeaks will bounce off of a large school of fish and come back to the dolphin and this will help it to find food. The Dolphin can do a lot with its noises.

Chapter 5: Human Contact with Bottlenose Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins are very smart. Humans have figured out how to talk with them. They can use whistles and clicks to communicate with Bottlenose Dolphins. They use these clicks with a special sonar machine that works under the water. The dolphins can speak back by using their whistling sounds. Humans can train the bottlenose dolphins to come over where they want them to by using this communication. Dolphins are very friendly to humans. Some people even swim with the dolphins when they scuba dive. Even though humans and dolphins get along very well, humans are the biggest threat to bottlenose dolphins. Bottlenose Dolphins follow human fishing boats around because of all of the fish around these boats. Many times, they are stuck inside of the fishing nets. When this happens, they drown. Bottlenose Dolphins need to come to the surface for air every fifteen minutes. Humans also affect the Bottlenose Dolphin because of all of the harmful chemicals they put in the water. Oil can be very dangerous for dolphins. It coats their skin and can make them very sick. Gas the leaks from boats poisons the Bottlenose Dolphins. Humans are the biggest threat to dolphins because of all of these reasons.

Many people enjoy going to see dolphins in the sea, lagoons, and even in aquariums. Dolphins have always been very popular animals. They are also very smart and entertaining. They like to show off and do tricks. I have told you a little bit about their characteristics, where they live, what they eat, and how they communicate. I hope that you found all of the information very interesting. I learned a lot about dolphins and I think they are cool and awesome animals. I have seen them in the wild many times and I enjoyed seeing them play and splash in the water. It is very important for us to protect their habitat. They have to have fish to catch so they can survive and we have to be very careful not to catch them in fishing nets. We also have to be careful not to put gas and chemicals in the water. This stuff poisons them and makes them sick, especially the babies. If we all work together we can keep them safe. If we stay farther out in the water and use safer fishing nets, maybe less will die. Sometimes it is important to protect the natural environment so animals like these can survive and live a healthy life. If we are very careful with Bottlenose Dolphins then maybe they will be around for a very long time, and people can continue to study them and learn from them. They are very nice and pretty animals and they deserve to live a long life.

Mothers Day 09

My Mom

My bother has brown eyes and black hair.

My mother likes to get a tan.

My mother looks prettiest when we go to the beach.

My mother doesn't like bugs.

My mother makes me laugh when she tickles me and snuggles me.

My mother likes for me to help her set the table.

My mother is really good at bowling and cooking.

I like best for my mom to cook chicken.

I love my mother very much!

By,


Dyllan Brun

Some pictures Anjolie drew over a year ago. I just found them again and I think they are super cute:) She was just 3 when she drew these!!

I Am


I am smart and energetic, I am many things



I wonder what the world that I cannot see is like, One day I will explore it all



I hear an imaginary voice telling me to do my best and I can achieve anything, I believe this is true



I see a tough world that I will have to face, but look forward to making it a better place



I want to have the best life I can have, and I want to help others have the best life that they can have



I am smart and energetic, but I am so much more



I imagine I am on a famous baseball team, by working hard I can make this dream come true



I feel spell bounded sometimes, I like that many things in life surprise me and I learn something new everyday



I touch the sky; I make my dreams come true



I worry when my dad goes somewhere faraway by himself, my family is very important



I cry when something bad happens, I help other people that are hurt



I am smart and energetic, but I have many feelings



I understand that sixth grade will be hard, but I look forward to the challenge



I say to keep trying and you will succeed, I know one day I will succeed at whatever I want to do



I dream to become a player on the Sand Diego Padres; I look forward to that day



I try to do best in school, I am proud to be an honor student



I hope to be able to get into a good college, I will also be a Scientist



I am smart and energetic, I am Matthew

Grandpa Ernie

by Brandon Brun

Ernest HarrisErnest Harris is my Great Grandfather. He is an awesome Grandfather. Every time he comes to visit me he goes places with me and brings me interesting gifts. My Grandfather had a very interesting life and he has been on Earth for a long time. He is 88 years old, and on Sunday he will be 89. Grandpa Ernie has a lot of friends and he travels to many interesting places all over the world. I hope that when I am a Grandpa, I am just like him.

Ernest Harris was born on April 26, 1920 in London, England. Before he was three years old he moved to the United States. He arrived in the United States at Ellis Island in New York. He had to go through the customs with his mother. It was a very difficult trip and many people died. My Grandfather was a part of history and it was recorded in a book that he entered the United States as an immigrant through Ellis Island. You can look on the Ellis Island Immigrant records and see my Grandfather’s name and when he arrived in the United States. He came to the United States on a boat named the RMS Berengaria. After he arrived in the US, his mother took him to live in Taft, California. Ernest lived in Taft for six years. He was very happy there. When he was 9, in 1929, he moved back to London, England and lived there for one year. His family moved back to the United States and lived in Long Beach, California. My Grandfather had his first job when he was 9 years old, selling newspapers on the street. Every morning he had to go and sell the newspapers. My Grandfather graduated college in California, at Berkeley on June 16, 1949 and on January 1, 1960 Ernest moved back to England to work for the United States Air Force. He was in England for two years. In July, 1962 he moved back to the United States. He worked as an electrical engineer for the United States Government Ballistics Division, Missile Design. He worked at this job from November, 1961 until 1984. He designed silos that held the missiles and directed the designing of Power Plants. My Grandfather was 64 years old when he retired.

My Grandfather has been to many different places around the world. He has been to Europe, Africa, Canada, South America, Asia, Russia, Australia and many other places. My Grandfathers favorite place to visit is London, England. This is where he was born and where some of his family lives. The last trip that he took was to Europe and he plans to go to Canada this summer. Whenever my Grandpa goes on a trip he takes his best friend, Cathy. They have been to a lot of places together and they visit us together. I am glad my Grandpa has a best friend. When my Grandfather visited Africa he saw a lion in a tree and it was eating another animal. While he was in Africa he almost stepped on a snake. It was pretty scary. My Grandfather went on a safari to see the different animals in Africa. He has seen so many different things and he has a lot of stories to tell. Whenever he comes to visit we always talk about all of the places he has been. My Grandpa really likes to travel.

Grandpas Ernie’s favorite colors are red and blue. His favorite food is steak and he likes to go to eat at different restaurants. Whenever my Grandfather comes to visit we go to different restaurants and eat good food. Last time my Grandpa came to visit we went to eat at a seafood restaurant at the beach. It was really fun. My Grandpa always encourages us to be good people and to have fun in life. My Grandpa tells me to be whatever I want when I grow up. When I asked my grandfather about his life he said, “I tried to be productive and ethical in my life.” I think that my Grandfather is a very good person. I have never met another person as great as him, except my Mom and Dad. I like to hear all of the stories about my Grandfathers life and hear about all of the places that he has been. When I grow up I want to travel just like my Grandpa. I hope that my Grandpa is still here to see me in college. I want to show him I can do the same like him and be a great person. I think my Grandpa will live to past 100 because he always has a lot of energy to go places and to play with us. I love my Grandpa Ernie very much and I am proud to have him as my Grandpa.

By Brandon Brun

Hello

Wow, it has been a long time since I last posted. It has been so long that I do not even know where to start my update. We always have so much going on around here. I will start with a family update and then do each of us individually.

We have been very busy at the beach. Now that the weather has warmed up, we spend every spare moment at the beach. The water is so warm here compared to San Diego. I believe the last time I checked the water was 79 degrees, and our outside temperatures have been around 85 degrees. It has been very nice. All of us have developed a very nice tan and we are really enjoying discovering all of the new sea life. We have all discovered that spending the day at the beach is great exercise and we are staying in very good shape, so that is also a plus. Recently we also spent the day in St. Augustine and that was a lot of fun. We always have fun when we go there. Uncle Willy came to visit us and we had a wonderful time!! It was great to see him and the kids had a blast. We hope he will come and visit us again soon. It is a lot of fun to show people around our new home. I will continue to share our experiences as we discover new places.

Matthew is graduating from Elementary School and he will start Middle School in the next year. I cannot even believe that he is already going to Middle School. He is such a wonderful child and he does a great job in everything that he does. Matthew has been an honor roll student all year and he did a great job on his FCAT testing. Matthew will be in the honor program in Middle School. He is very excited and looking forward to starting a new chapter in his young life. I am sure that we will have a lot of news to share when he starts school.

Brandon scored the second highest points on the FCAT for his grade. He always does amazing on all of his testing. Brandon is looking forward to fourth grade. He will be staying in the same school he is in now and he loves it. As social as Brandon is, he has made a lot of friends. Brandon is also going to begin taking Hip Hop dancing. He is very excited about this and he hopes he can join a dance team. I cannot wait for the class to begin, I am sure he will do great!!!! I will be sure to post a lot of pictures.

Dyllan is graduating from Kindergarten!! I cannot believe my little man is going to be 6 in August!! Where does the time go?? Dyllan is doing a wonderful job in everything that he does. He received a reading award and tomorrow is his classroom award assembly. I will post and let everyone know what awards he gets. Dyllan will be a first grader next year!! He is very excited to be in the “big” kid part of the school. Dyllan has a lot of friends and he looks forward to spending the coming year with his friends. We are very proud of how well he has done in school this year.

Anjolie is getting ready for her recital!! The big day is on June 13th! She is so excited, and so are we!!! Grandma is coming from Las Vegas to see the recital and Anjolie is over the moon about that. All she has talked about in days is Grandmas upcoming visit. Anjolie has even split her bed in half and is saving half for Grandma. Very cute!!!! Her recital will be a Dora the Explorer recital. All of the little girls have been working very hard and all of the parents are so excited to see it. I will definitely be posting pictures as soon as it is over! Anjolie is going to be starting school this year and she is very excited. I cannot even believe we are already at that age! She has grown so quickly!!!

Rodolphe and I are doing very well. We are enjoying all of the time we have together here in Florida. Spending so much time with the kids at the beach has been very nice. Rodolphe is working very hard to get his business running smoothly and he is doing a great job. I am very proud of him!! He always works very hard and we are so lucky to have him. I am keeping very busy with school and I only have three more classes until my nursing core begins. I am very excited. Right now I am still holding my 4.0 and I also won a 100% math club award. I worked so hard to get that 100% in Advance Math!! I am really looking forward to finishing school and beginning my new career.

I hope that some of you will find the time to come out to Florida and visit with us. We would be very happy to see you!! We really love it here and we know that you would all have a great time. I feel very blessed to be in such a beautiful place, have such amazing children, and a wonderful husband. Who could ask for anything more?