A drone operator on Friday captured footage showing dolphins “on the charge” as they spot and penetrate a massive school of salmon just beyond the shore.
As viewers will note, the salmon are grouped into a tight sphere as a defensive tactic off Tamarama Beach near Sydney, Australia.
The unidentified Drone Shark App operator begins his play-by-play commentary when dolphins first spot the school. “Watch out salmon, they’re coming for you,” he warns.
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The salmon hold position as the dolphins approach, but that’s about to change. “Run salmon, run,” the operator advises.
At 45 seconds the assault begins and the sphere moves rapidly toward shore as it’s parted by one of the dolphins.
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“This is what we live for,” the narrator says. “They’re going to push them into shore there and single them out. It’s munch town!”
With the salmon school wedged against the reef, several dolphins feed even as a wave breaks on the school.
When the dolphins emerge, the drone operator points out a newborn dolphin swimming closely to and learning from mom. “Look at that little Tucker, what a cutie,” the narrator says.
At 3:05 another dolphin pod speeds past surfers to participate in the salmon feast, but the fish are pushed so closely against the reef that the dolphins lose interest and ride waves instead.
Schooling salmon are common off Sydney at certain times of year, attracting dolphins and sharks. Drone Shark App, in fact, acts as a shark spotter and some follow its social media pages to keep tabs on shark activity.