Drone Captures Rare Superpod of Thousands of Dolphins in Monterey Bay
Feb 27, 2025
A breathtaking sight unfolded last Friday in Monterey Bay, California, when a whale-watching team stumbled upon a rare superpod of over 2,000 dolphins, an event partially documented using Tecnología de drones.
Evan Brodsky, a boat captain and videographer with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, described the water as “boiling” with northern right whale dolphins and Pacific white-sided dolphins leaping across the surface, reports The NY Times.
This extraordinary gathering, one of the largest of its kind recorded in the region, highlights the growing role of drones in observing Vida salvaje and the ecological richness of Monterey Bay.
The day began with Brodsky and his two crewmates searching for gray whales aboard a small inflatable boat. After four hours yielded just one whale sighting, Brodsky’s intuition urged him to extend the trip.
That decision paid off when the team spotted a small group of 15 dolphins. Knowing these animals often travel in larger groups, they followed the pod, which soon swelled into hundreds and then thousands.
Using his drone, Brodsky captured footage revealing the sheer scale of the superpod, estimating over 2,000 dolphins stretched across the horizon, about 1.5 miles from their position.
“The whole time we were just saying, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so amazing, I can’t believe this,’” he said.
For a team accustomed to daily outings, the sight still sparked awe, underscoring the event’s rarity.
The drone’s aerial perspective provided a clear view of the pod’s density and movement, a feat difficult to achieve from the boat alone.
Monterey Bay’s unique geography plays a critical role in such gatherings. The Monterey Submarine Canyon, a deep underwater feature, drives upwelling that floods the surface with nutrient-rich water.
This abundance attracts diverse marine life, from whales to dolphins. Dorian Houser, director of conservation biology at the National Marine Mammal Foundation, attributed the superpod’s size to a likely surge in food availability.
“The groups I have typically encountered are much smaller,” he noted, emphasizing the unusual scale of this sighting.
The pod included northern right whale dolphins—known for their social nature—mingled with Pacific white-sided dolphins, along with mothers and calves.
This mix suggests Monterey Bay serves as both a feeding ground and a nursery, amplifying its ecological significance.
Brodsky’s team observed responsibly, maintaining a safe distance and navigating parallel to the pod to avoid disruption, though some dolphins playfully approached the boat.
While Brodsky’s drone use was incidental rather than scientific, it underscores the technology’s potential in marine research. Drones offer a non-invasive way to monitor wildlife, capturing high-resolution imagery and video over vast areas.
Compared to traditional boat-based observation, drones can cover greater distances—here, documenting a pod spanning miles—without disturbing sensitive species.
Technical specs like flight time (typically 20-40 minutes for consumer and prosumer models) and camera resolution (almost always 4K nowadays) make them viable tools for such tasks.
However, limitations exist. Battery life restricts continuous monitoring, and regulatory considerations, such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s rules on flying within visual line of sight, below 400 feet, or near wildlife, must be navigated.
Still, the footage Brodsky obtained demonstrates how drones can complement ground efforts, offering researchers and enthusiasts alike a broader perspective on natural phenomena.
Conservationists also see value here. Large dolphin gatherings provide data on population health and behavior, but they’re vulnerable to threats like pollution and overfishing.
Responsible observation, as modeled by Brodsky’s team, aligns with regulatory frameworks like the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which mandates minimizing human impact.
Drones, if scaled for research, could enhance these efforts, offering a low-disturbance alternative to manned surveys.
The Monterey Bay superpod stands as a testament to nature’s unpredictability and resilience.
For Brodsky, who’s witnessed other large pods—like 1,500 Risso’s dolphins in nearby Carmel Bay a month prior—each encounter retains its magic.
“It’s the best feeling,” he said. “It’s indescribable.”
From an industry perspective, this event bridges wildlife and technology.
Drones, already pivotal in aerial mapping and inspections, are poised to expand into marine conservation, a shift with implications for hobbyists and professionals alike.
https://dronexl.co/es/2025/02/27/drone-captures-thousands-dolphins-monterey-bay/
Japanese Defense Ministry confirms flight by Chinese GJ-2 drone near Japan
February 26, 2025
Japan's Defense Ministry says it has detected China's GJ-2 drone in the skies around Japan for the first time.
The ministry says the reconnaissance-attack unmanned aerial vehicle flew over the East China Sea and passed between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island headed for the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday.
The ministry says the drone then changed direction from southward to northeastward and reached an area east of the island of Amami Oshima.
It said the craft then turned around and retraced its path back toward China.
The ministry also says it found another Chinese reconnaissance drone flying on the similar route.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets in response to the drone flights.
The ministry says the Chinese craft did not violate Japan's territorial airspace.
The ministry says it continues to monitor the Chinese military's increasing activities around Japan.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250227_03/
Ukrainian Air Force takes down key Russian command center near frontlines
February 27, 2025, 08:45 AM
Ukraine’s Air Force struck a residential building near the village of Kopani in Zaporizhzhya Oblast on Feb. 25, which Russian forces had been using as a command and observation post and a launch site for drones, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Feb. 27.
The strike significantly reduced the operational capabilities of the 1429th Motorized Rifle Regiment, hampering its ability to terrorize civilians, the General Staff said.
Ukraine’s Air Force Command emphasized that attacks on Russian military targets will continue until all occupying forces are expelled from Ukrainian territory.
On Feb. 17, Ukrainian Air Force units successfully carried out a precision strike against positions held by the 2nd Motorized Rifle Battalion of Russia’s 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade near Chumatske in Zaporizhzhya Oblast.
Earlier, on Feb. 3, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that the Air Force had hit a Russian command post near Novoivanivka in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
The strike caused extensive damage and led to significant casualties among Russian personnel, according to Ukrainian military officials.
On Feb. 13, another high-precision strike destroyed an enemy military facility near Yelyzavetivka in Kursk Oblast.
The target was a platoon stronghold belonging to the 28th Rifle Battalion of Russia’s 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which Russian forces had been using to launch drone attacks on Ukrainian positions in Sumy Oblast.
Ukraine’s ongoing campaign of precision airstrikes is disrupting Russian military operations and degrading the enemy’s ability to conduct offensive actions and launch drone attacks against Ukrainian forces and civilians.
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/ukrainian-air-force-destroys-russian-command-post-used-for-drone-strikes-50493762.html
Dr Steven Greer on Trump's UFO Disclosure, 69 Types of ET, His Photos with Aliens
Feb 26, 2025 6:57 PM
Dr. Steven Greer returned to VladTV to discuss updates to the disclosure of UFOs since Donald Trump took office.
In this new exclusive, Greer explains his mission to end government secrecy around UAPs and extraterrestrial technology.
He talked about the new task force to declassify various government secrets and gave his opinion on the most effective way for the task force to operate.
Throughout the interview, Dr. Greer points out the misinformation regarding UFOs and reacts to others' public statements about their experiences with extraterrestrials.
https://www.vladtv.com/article/309714/dr-steven-greer-on-trumps-ufo-disclosure-69-types-of-et-his-photos-with
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZUcbeva7go