Welcome to whale season. Get to know these iconic guests from the Southern Ocean, meet the individuals who examine them, and discover out how one can grow to be a citizen scientist.
Inside minutes of leaving Sydney Harbour, Vanessa Pirotta spots a whale gliding by the waters past town’s towering sandstone cliffs.
“It is a blow, we have got whales!” she shouts.
Water droplets from the whale rise into the air, because the darkish shadow of the whale’s again sinks underneath the floor.
As the times develop shorter and colder, and icy winds sign winter is on its method, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and southern proper whales (Eubalaena australis) start their annual migration to northern breeding grounds.
Discover out extra about Dr Vanessa Pirotta’s work on Southern Ocean Stay on Tuesday, June 21 on ABC TV and iview.(Equipped: Northern Photos)
Standing on the deck of a ship with a digital camera slung about her neck, Dr Pirotta is utilizing a drone to gather samples of humpback whale snot, which give a snapshot of the animal’s well being and the ocean they swim in.
Lengthy-term info gathered by whale watchers, boaties, wildlife photographers and tour operators may also assist scientists be taught extra about these majestic Southern Ocean animals and assist defend their habitat as they recuperate from a long time of exploitation.
Let’s get to know two of probably the most iconic whales that go to Australia in winter — then take a journey round Australia to see what we’re studying about them.
You may as well use these hyperlinks to leap straight to your state and discover out how one can assist.
What whale is that?
Humpback whales have mild colored patches underneath their fins, stomach and tail.(
Getty Pictures: Jason McCawley
)
Rising as much as the scale of a bus, humpbacks have a small dorsal fin on their grey-coloured again, and light-coloured markings underneath their lengthy pectoral fins, stomach and tail.
Area to play or pause, M to mute, left and proper arrows to hunt, up and down arrows for quantity.
Map of Humpback Whale migration alongside Australia’s east coast(ABC: Teresa Tan/Adobe Inventory: mozZz)
Within the east, humpbacks hit the Victorian coast in April and switch proper on their journey up the coast of NSW, making a beeline in the direction of the Nice Barrier Reef.
Within the west, humpbacks begin to skirt across the south-west coast of Western Australia in late Might.
Area to play or pause, M to mute, left and proper arrows to hunt, up and down arrows for quantity. Map of Humpback Whale migration alongside Australia’s west coast(ABC: Teresa Tan/Adobe Inventory: mozZz)
The western humpbacks are heading as much as their calving grounds, which lengthen from the turquoise waters of Shark Bay to the ochre cliffs of the Kimberley.
After a few months, the whales make their method again down south at a extra leisurely tempo alongside each coasts with calves in tow, stopping near shore to relaxation and play.
Proper whales might be recognized by the white patches on their head.(Equipped: WA Museum/Andrew Halsall)
Southern proper whales are bigger and darker than humpbacks, have a a lot shorter paddle-like pectoral fin, and are the one species of enormous whale that does not have a dorsal fin.
In addition they have vivid white patches known as callosities on their heads which might be distinctive to each particular person.
Round 2 – 5 per cent of southern proper whale calves are white.(Equipped: Josh Smith)
About 5 per cent of southern proper whale calves are white, with their color altering to a light-weight pinkish-grey over time.
Area to play or pause, M to mute, left and proper arrows to hunt, up and down arrows for quantity. Map of Southern Proper Whale migration throughout Australia’s south coast(ABC: Teresa Tan/Adobe Inventory: mozZz)
Throughout winter, southern proper whales head to the calm waters alongside the coast of Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
The females will spend as much as 4 months in these areas with their new child calves.
Many of those whale nurseries are former whaling stations.
Humpbacks and southern proper whales had been slaughtered for his or her oil, blubber, bones and plates of keratin of their mouths often known as baleen, at whaling stations proper round Australia, till whaling was banned in 1978.
Immediately, all species are listed as protected.
However they’re affected by environmental pressures comparable to ship strike, entanglement in fishing gear, noise in developed areas, and modifications to local weather and ocean circumstances alongside their route.
Whales are sometimes entangled in fishing gear throughout their migration alongside the coast.(Equipped: Whale Watching Sydney)
Humpback numbers alongside the east coast have returned near pre-whaling ranges, and they’re now not thought-about endangered.
However the story may be very totally different for southern proper whales, which proceed to be listed as endangered at a federal degree.
Southern proper whales had been focused by whalers as a result of they yield extra oil and blubber, have the longest baleen plates of any whale species, and calve very near shore.
It is 40 years since whaling ended however the restoration of southern proper whale populations of their conventional calving grounds has been sluggish, particularly in south-eastern areas the place numbers are nonetheless critically low.
Maintain scrolling to see what’s occurring proper round Australia and meet among the scientists and citizen scientists who examine them — or use these hyperlinks to leap straight to your state.
Hervey Bay, Qld
Hervey Bay is a singular habitat dominated by feminine whales.(Getty: Richard I’Anson)
Hervey Bay is the primary pit-stop for humpback whales on the east coast as they go away their breeding grounds throughout their southerly migration.
Wally Franklin and his late associate Trish had been drawn to Hervey Bay within the late 80s by their encounters with whales alongside the Fraser Coast.
On the time, not a lot was identified concerning the actions of various teams of humpbacks into the realm as they migrate southward between July and October.
Beginning out as citizen scientists after which turning into marine scientists, the Franklins reworked what we learn about whales in Hervey Bay.
Annually, the duo would journey up the coast from their residence in Byron Bay to spend 10 weeks photographing whales, accumulating whale songs and conducting different analysis.
Wally and Trish Franklin devoted their lives to learning whales and began one of many longest working analysis applications in Australia.(Equipped: Luke Marsden)
Timantha and her calf in Hervey Bay had been favourites of Dr Trish Franklin.(Equipped: Trish and Wally Franklin/The Oceania Challenge)
“After 30 years I’ve actually shaped the view that we solely have a smattering of understanding of the fact of the humpback migration,” Dr Franklin says.
Dr Trish Franklin arrange the Oceania Challenge, logging images of the underside of tail flukes, that are distinctive for each whale.
Over her life, Trish documented nearly 3,500 humpback whales, with long-term histories between two and 25 years.
“With picture ID you’ll be able to examine ecology, behaviour, the entire shebang, it’s totally sensible information,” Wally Franklin says.
Trish’s catalogue of whales was uploaded to a world database known as Completely happy Whale, which anybody can use to trace the motion of whales across the globe.
One of many common whales within the space is Nala, who seems roughly each two years, typically with a calf in tow.
The sample on the tail fluke is exclusive for each whale.(Equipped: Dr Trish and Wally Franklin/The Oceania Challenge)
“Nala’s fluke patterns did not change over the 30 years Trish noticed and photographed her,” Dr Franklin says.
In 2019, Hervey Bay was accredited because the world’s first whale heritage website.
It is a distinctive habitat the place females outnumber males by three to 1.
The primary group of whales, which normally arrive within the bay in mid-July to the top of August, are younger whales and mature females who’re both resting or newly pregnant.
The subsequent to return from August to September are the mature lactating females with new calves.
Male whales arrive someday in the midst of the 2 teams, however the identical whales might be seen once more in numerous areas all through the migration as they circle round searching for females to hook up with.
The primary whale of the season this 12 months arrived unexpectedly early in Might.
“It regarded like a younger whale since you anticipate younger whales early within the season,” Dr Franklin says.
The identical whale was photographed three weeks later again down in Merimbula on the NSW south coast.
How one can assist:
- Citizen scientists within the Hervey Bay space can contribute their photographs to the Completely happy Whale database.
- Maintain a protected distance away from animals within the water
- If you happen to see an injured or distressed animal in Queensland waters report it on 1300 130 372
Byron Bay to Eden, NSW
Whales come very near Byron Bay as they go previous probably the most easterly level in Australia.(Getty Pictures: Vicki Smith)
The coast of NSW is dotted with a lot of vantage factors that present views of the whales throughout each their northern and southern migrations.
Top-of-the-line locations to see them is Cape Byron, the place they arrive near shore as they spherical Australia’s most easterly level.
“Byron Bay is the very best land-based whale watching space for humpback whales on the planet. It is wonderful,” Dr Franklin says.
It was right here that Migaloo, the white humpback calf, was first noticed in 1991.
Migaloo the albino whale was first noticed in Byron Bay.(Equipped: Lisa Skelton)
Since then he is commonly been noticed off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand.
“Migaloo usually turns up in July,” Dr Franklin says.
“The final two years he was sighted he was truly sighted in New Zealand every week earlier than, then he was sighted on the Gold Coast.”
Additional south, whale watchers have sweeping 180-degree views of the migration path from Sydney’s rugged cliffs.
Citizen scientists have counted whales passing Cape Solander for greater than 20 years. The lookout is closed this 12 months.(Equipped: Geoff Ross/DPE)[
Cape Solander, Kamay National Park near Botany Bay provides sweeping views of the whale migration.(Supplied: Andrew Richards/DPE)
A humpback whale jumps out of the water near Sydney.(ABC Open contributor John Goodridge)
Humpback whales move at a clipping pace as they travel northward.
“Whale counting that goes back 20 years shows that June and July is the peak time [to see the northern migration from Sydney],” Dr Pirotta says.
Finally rely, about 35,000 whales make their method up the east coast every year.
“In August we begin to see whales going north and south, so there will probably be that crossover.”
The whales are extra relaxed as they return on their southern journey, taking time to relaxation and play.
Scientists as soon as believed that whales fasted for his or her complete migration, solely feasting once more on krill as soon as they returned to Antarctica.
However just lately, whales have been noticed feeding in mass supergroups of 20 or extra people in September and October within the waters off Sydney, and additional down the south coast of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.
Whales have been noticed feeding in giant teams off the south coast of NSW.(Equipped: Sapphire Coastal Adventures)
The south coast of NSW is a well-liked space for whale watching, particularly throughout their southern migration.(Equipped: Sapphire Coastal Adventures)
The whales swim in circles, creating bubbles and lunging sideways into the bubble web to scoop up their prey.
“To see that these animals are actually not simply doing a slight pit cease goes past being opportunistic, so that is thrilling,” Dr Pirotta says.
“A few of these behaviours may need been current earlier than whaling and are solely now beginning to return.”
How one can assist:
South-east Victoria and Tasmania
Whales are sometimes noticed close to Phillip Island.(Equipped: David Donnelly)
The south-east Victorian coast is identified for its humpbacks, southern proper whales, killer whales and blue whales.
It’s right here that David Donnelly has arrange the Two Bays Whale Challenge for the Dolphin Analysis Institute.
“Humpback whales have migrated very early this 12 months,” he says.
“And blue whales [which are usually gone by May] are hanging round longer, so I do not know what’s occurring on the market.”
As whale season ramps up, Mr Donnelly is encouraging whale watchers between Inverloch and Barwon Heads to add their sightings and pictures to trace the actions of various species, however significantly humpbacks, by the realm.
David Donnelly coordinates the Two Bays citizen science undertaking in Port Phillip.(Equipped: David Donnelly)
Whale watching may be very in style at Phillip Island.(Equipped: David Donnelly )
Killer whales are sometimes seen in July within the waters round Phillip Island.(Equipped: David Donnelly)
Over the previous 5 years, he says there have been extra humpbacks sighted hitting the south-western Victorian coast and making their method east.
“In June and July, there’s an infinite stream of humpbacks should you go right down to most vantage factors.”
In late September to mid-November, the humpbacks take a barely totally different route on their return journey, with some even heading throughout the ditch in the direction of New Zealand.
“They have an inclination to peel off a little bit bit once they come to Victoria, however actually do not come throughout the northern Bass Strait area as a lot as they do on the northerly migration,” he says.
“It is actually fascinating behaviour, we’re nonetheless but to know it correctly.”
How one can assist:
- Go to the Two Bays Whale Challenge to log sightings and pictures of can add photos of southern proper whales in addition to different species comparable to humpbacks, blue whales, minke whales and killer whales in south-east Victoria.
- Keep a protected distance away from any animals within the water
- If you happen to see an injured or distressed animal in Victorian waters report it to the whale and dolphin emergency hotline on 1300 136 017
Scientists have been seeing a lot of fascinating behaviour off the coast of Tasmania.(Equipped: Madeleine Brasier)
Additional south in Tasmania, marine biologist Madeleine Brasier has arrange Tasmania Fluke Challenge to assist establish totally different whales by the markings on the underside of their tails.
Whereas most humpbacks have moved north of Tasmania by the top of June, they return in September and October and are sometimes seen deep diving for meals.
“We had been seeing various humpbacks off Tassie, numerous fascinating behaviours, and numerous feeding motion,” she says.
Pictures of the whale tails are added to the Completely happy Whale database, giving scientists an concept about whether or not the identical whale has turned up earlier than round Tasmania or in different areas like Hervey Bay.
“I feel we have had some sighted as much as about 20 years in the past utilizing that database,” Dr Brasier says.
How one can assist:
Warrnambool, south-west Victoria
Warrnambool’s beautiful shoreline is a essential habitat for japanese southern proper whales.(ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland)
Warrnambool, on Victoria’s far south-west coast, is a essential nursery for the south-east inhabitants of the southern proper whale.
“Warrnambool is the one place the place they arrive commonly to calve within the south-east Australian area,” says Mandy Watson of the Victorian Division of Setting, Land, Water and Planning.
Finally rely, there have been lower than 300 southern proper whales within the south-eastern inhabitants.
“We predict the rationale why the inhabitants within the east is just not recovering so properly is that they stunning a lot hunted all of the females,” Ms Watson mentioned.
“Females at all times come again to the identical locations they had been born to have their calves.”
”So there may be this maternal reminiscence that is handed on and should you take away these females from the inhabitants, then there isn’t any foundation for restoration.”
Annually whale watchers and photographers collect on the viewing platform above Logan’s Seashore to identify whales.
Dale Appleton and Mandy Watson verify photos of whales collected by drone (analysis is completed underneath strict analysis licensing circumstances).( Equipped: Mandy Watson/DELWP (drone analysis is undertaken underneath strict licensing circumstances))
Volunteer whale watchers are briefed on the Logan’s Seashore lookout.( Equipped: Mandy Watson/DELWP)
Two Two the southern proper whale off Logan’s Seashore, Warrnambool(Equipped: DELWP (taken utilizing a strict analysis allow))
“Now we have round 15 females that commonly use the Logan’s Seashore nursery,” says Ms Watson, who runs a citizen science undertaking known as WhaleFace.
Southern proper whales on this space calve about each three years, so the numbers of females within the space range from 12 months to 12 months, however the common is between two to a few every year.
Throughout calving season, whales at Logan’s Seashore are protected by a boating exclusion zone that’s in place between June and September.
However, Ms Watson says, the state authorities may have to have a look at introducing exclusion areas in rising nursery areas like the previous whaling city of Portland, additional west.
“We are actually beginning to see the odd calf being born there and females staying, so we may have to have a look at some form of vessel restrictions to assist them recuperate,” she says.
How one can assist:
- Go to WhaleFace and register as a member. You may log sightings and add photographs. The information is then validated and added to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas
- Keep a protected distance away from any animals within the water
- If you happen to see an injured or distressed animal in Victorian waters report it to the whale and dolphin emergency hotline on 1300 136 017
Encounter Bay to Head of Bight, SA
Encounter Bay whale nursery from Port Elliot to Goolwa is a busy boating space.(Equipped: South Coast Aerial Pictures)
Elizabeth Steele-Collins watches from her vantage level on the Waitpinga Cliffs on the Fleurieu Peninsula as whales come into Encounter Bay.
Ms Steele-Collins, who has been recognizing whales since 1995, is one among a community of citizen scientists who search for whales every day between Might and November.
Elizabeth Steele-Collins began the Encounter Bay Southern Proper Whale Examine citizen science program.(Equipped: Chris Farrell)
Volunteers {photograph} whales at Encounter Bay.(Equipped: Sandra Caballero)
A whale breaches within the waters off Victor Harbour in Encounter Bay.(Equipped: Stan Mansas)
Encounter Bay is probably the most easterly of South Australia’s 4 whale nurseries.
“The Encounter Bay space is a really busy boating space,” says Ms Steele-Collins, who’s lobbying for the creation of exclusion zones in whale nursery areas throughout calving season like these additional east in Warrnambool.
“Whale numbers had been down final 12 months,” she says, including that building on a causeway close to Granite Island might have been an element.
“We documented some whales demonstrating disturbed behaviour, however we additionally do not know what number of bypassed Encounter Bay due to the noise,” Ms Steele-Collins says.
This 12 months she is happy to see a southern proper whale known as Buttons has returned with a new child calf.
Buttons was final seen within the bay in 2017 together with her calf Bobbin.
Buttons and her calf Bobbin stayed in Encounter Bay for 3 months in 2017.(Equipped: Bob Prestwood (taken underneath analysis allow))
In 2013, Ms Steele-Collins began up the Encounter Bay Proper Whale examine to establish particular person southern proper whales and assist scientists perceive the motion of various populations between Encounter Bay and different nurseries.
“It is actually thrilling whenever you get cross-matches with different areas as a result of you’ll be able to observe a person by time and house.
“A number of the similar whales which have been right here at Encounter Bay have been on the Nice Australian Bight.”
The Nice Australian Bight is a marine sanctuary for southern proper whales.(Equipped: Richard Twist/Nice Australian Bight Proper Whale Examine)
The biggest of those nurseries lies beneath the towering cliffs at Head of Bight, probably the most northerly level of the Nice Australian Bight, the place scientists have been learning whales for greater than 30 years.
Boats are excluded from this space in the course of the calving season between Might and October.
Observations of whales getting back from 12 months to 12 months at this level point out the western inhabitants is rising at a charge of about 6 per cent a 12 months, and now numbers round 2,585 people.
Whereas many of the whales on this nursery are from the western inhabitants, it has additionally been a sanctuary for whales who’ve been disturbed by human exercise within the east.
In 2020, a whale known as Nessie and her calf made the 1,500-kilometre journey from Victoria to Head of Bight after being disturbed by boats in Western Port after which in Encounter Bay.
The South Australian authorities has simply introduced it’s searching for to achieve World Heritage Standing for the Nice Australian Bight, and “will discover establishing whale nursery safety areas the place whales come near shore with their younger”.
How one can assist:
South and south-west coasts, Western Australia
The rugged south coast of Western Australia between Esperance and Flinders Bay gives shelter for western populations of southern proper whales in winter.
Albany on Western Australia’s south coast was the final whaling station to shut in 1978, however at the moment it’s a in style whale-watching vacation spot.
The realm is thought for its variety of species, says marine biologist Kirsty Alexander.
Together with southern proper whales, the realm can be a transit level for humpbacks passing by on their migration north.
Killer whales, which stalk the depths of the Bremer Canyon in summer season, hunt southern proper moms and calves near shore right now of 12 months.
Western southern whales are doing higher than their japanese cousins, however fewer than anticipated whales have been noticed alongside the south coast over the previous couple of years.
Ms Alexander says there are large gaps in information.
“Knowledge on essential habitats for southern proper whales, in addition to different whale species like humpbacks on the south coast, may be very outdated or it is incomplete,” she says.
“In the meantime, we have got rising regional growth within the close to shore marine setting and that poses further dangers to this species.”
Marine biologist Kirsty Alexander began the South Coast Cetacean citizen science program.(ABC Nice Southern: Ellie Honeybone)
Southern proper whales, together with a white calf, at Level Ann, Fitzgerald River Nationwide Park.(Equipped: Peter Nicholas/ WA Division of Biodiversity, Conservation and Points of interest. Picture taken underneath analysis allow.)
So in 2016, Ms Alexander, who has labored as an environmental advisor for each state and commonwealth governments, arrange a citizen science undertaking known as South Coast Cetaceans.
Alongside the rugged coast stretching between Esperance and Walpole, a community of educated volunteers spot whales from vantage factors the place they stay, or go out with native whale-watching operators.
“In terms of [surveying] distant, creating coastlines like ours, we simply could not do it with out our volunteers.”
The season already started on the finish of Might with the arrival of some southern proper whales.
“And we have been seeing extra humpbacks, largely younger juveniles within the space,” says Ms Alexander, who has simply come residence from rescuing a whale entangled in fishing gear.
The Western Australian authorities is presently contemplating making a marine park that extends from Bremer Bay to the South Australian border.
The SouWest citizen science examine counts whales in Geographe Bay off Western Australia.(ABC Information: Louisa Rebgetz)
Citizen scientists alongside the south-west coast are additionally serving to to fill within the gaps of information about southern proper whales between Albany and Geographe Bay, off the coast of Busselton.
In contrast to the east coast, the place whale numbers have been surveyed yearly for the previous 20 years, the final rely of west coast humpbacks was executed in 2008, at which period there have been round 30,000 whales.
Whale photographs are matched with a list of proper whale photos began in 1991 by Chris Burton, who co-founded the SouWest Whale Ecology Examine.
“We have seen a number of humpbacks now off Geographe Bay and the opposite facet of Rottnest, so we’re beginning to see a number of heading north alongside the West Australian shoreline,” says examine co-founder Chandra Salgado-Kent of Edith Cowan College and Oceans Blueprint.
Dr Chandra Salgado Kent makes use of underwater microphones to gather whale songs in Western Australia.(Equipped: Chandra Salgado Kent)
Whale watching at Geographe Bay lookout.(Equipped: Chandra Salgado-Kent)
Humpbacks move by Shark Bay on the way in which to and from their calving grounds. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)
Different good vantage factors alongside the route are North-West Cape and Shark Bay, the place they arrive very near shore.
The majority of humpbacks will attain Shark Bay by the top of July and a few will journey additional north to the Kimberley, then begin shifting again down with their calves, which are sometimes pursued by a gaggle of killer whales that stay within the space.
Dr Salgado-Kent and her colleagues are additionally monitoring the totally different species by recording whale songs to get an concept of what number of whales are in the identical areas alongside the West Australian coast.
Humpback whales produce what is named “music” that’s composed of themes, phrases, and items, that are repeated in sequences.
Solely the males sing, whereas females produce sounds which might be totally different to music.
“The inhabitants of humpback whales that migrates off the coast of Western Australia sings a special music than the inhabitants that migrates seasonally off the japanese Australian coast line,” she says.
Dr Salgado-Kent hopes the analysis will be capable of assist scientists perceive whether or not elements comparable to local weather change are affecting migrations between their foraging grounds in Antarctica or breeding grounds within the north.
How one can assist:
Watch Southern Ocean Stay on Tuesday, June 21 on ABC TV and iView.
Credit:
- Reporter/digital manufacturing: Genelle Weule
- Designer/digital manufacturing: Teresa Tan
- Developer: Alex Palmer
- Digital editors: Emma Morris and Joel Zander
- Images: Northern Photos, Jason McCawley/Getty Pictures, WA Museum/Andrew Hassell, Joshua Smith (whales); Richard l’Anson/Getty Pictures, Luke Marsden, Dr Trish Franklin/The Oceania Challenge (Hervey Bay); Vicki Smith/Getty Pictures, Lisa Skelton, Andrew Richards/DPE, Geoff Ross DPE, John Goodridge, Sapphire Coastal Adventures (NSW); David Donnelly (SE Vic); Madeleine Brasier (Tas); Emily Blissland/ ABC, Mandy Watson/DELWP (SW Vic); South Coast Aerial photos, Chris Farrell, Sandra Caballero, Bob Prestwood, Stan Mansas, Richard Twist/Nice Australian Bight Whale Analysis Examine (SA); Ellie Honeybone/ABC, Peter Nicholas/DBCA, Louisa Rebgetz/ABC, Chandra Salgado-Kent, Chris Lewis /ABC (WA)
- Video: Reilly Wardrope/Getty Pictures (lead); Brett Dixon (whale feeding); Peter Nicholas /DBCA (south coast WA)
- Drone photos from scientists, citizen scientists and authorities companies have been collected utilizing strict permits
- Southern Ocean Stay: Northern Photos
