Dolphins, specifically short-beaked common dolphins, have been observed in the East River, much to the delight of NYC residents. These sightings are rare since common dolphins typically remain offshore, only becoming visible in city waters when bottlenose dolphins move south during winter. Experts are puzzled by the reasons for this excursion and suggest this pair may be a mother and calf. Monitoring sightings is crucial due to their rarity, and there are questions regarding whether they are feeding in the river's current fish population.
Keen-eyed ocean fauna fanatics spotted the two slick swimmers on Friday and Saturday - bobbing up and down the waterway near the Upper East Side alongside the FDR Drive.
Common dolphins are present in our region all year round and generally live off-shore - only seen in the city's waterways after bottlenose dolphins migrate south for winter.
There have been just a handful of sightings of this species in the Hudson or East River over the past few years.
The fact that it is not a frequent occurrence makes it even more important that any sightings are reported so that these dolphins can be monitored.
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