Their fibreglass counterparts have been bringing in the crowds across Aberdeen – and now north-east residents are being urged to help spot real dolphins.
A trail of 50 life-sized sculptures of bottlenose dolphins first appeared at landmarks around the city a few weeks ago.
Now the charity behind the project, Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), is asking for help to protect the charismatic creatures.
WDC will be holding another of its Shorewatch training sessions at Nigg Bay Golf Club, Torry, on Sunday from 10.30am to 4pm.
The programme relies on volunteers to monitor the presence of dolphins, whales and porpoises across Scotland.
WDC head of Scottish policy, Sarah Dolman, said it is vital to understand which areas might be a key habitat for the creatures.
“We basically need to have eyes on the sea around the entire Scottish coastline, this is why community participation is so important to the long term management of marine species and their homes,” she added.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can sign up and receive expert training – and will be asked to carry out regular 10-minute watches at specific sites.
To book a place for Sunday’s session, contact the Shorewatch team by e-mailing shorewatch@whales.org or phoning 01343 820339.