As a kid I always wanted to be a marine biologist and work with dolphins. I’d spend hours mimicing their vocalisations of any species i could find. A few years ago, now in my 30’s, swimming in florida i saw a bottlenose pod out by the first sandbar, quite far away and I was thinking it was a shame I wasn’t a surfer so it would be hard to see them closer. Then I remembered the calls I would mimic, and decided what the heck and tried a few of the sounds I remembered. It didn’t work. But then I thought hey, uh, duh, they are under water, so I stuck my head in the water and tried again. One broke off from the pod, swam right at me and I started to think maybe I said something mean and this was a horrible idea, as seeing a dolphin pulling such speed right at ya is a bit disconcerting! But it diverged last second and did a loop around me on it’s side looking up at me, then sped off back to the pod. Best. Day. Ever. I’m sure it was thinking wtf is the dumb human saying.
So…I can kinda mimic? well enough to be a curiosity at least!