Captain Dave Anderson of Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari has posted a 5-minute video, shot with a DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter equipped with a GoPro HERO3 Black camera, that features a super pod of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stampeding off Dana Point, California, three gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) migrating together down the coast off San Clemente, California and close-ups of a newborn humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf snuggling and playing with its mom as an escort whale stands guard nearby, filmed recently in Maui.

There are some unresolved issues about the use of drones in general, and of wildlife being harassed by them. Petapixel reports on an apparent landmark ruling about their commercial use in the U.S.A. and Capt. Anderson has added an addendum his YouTube video:

‘NOAA is currently reviewing drones and may create laws or guidelines for using them around whales.”