The annual whale watching season is well and truly underway and, like many others, grey nomads are scanning the ocean in hope of spotting one of the majestic creatures.
While whales can be spotted at different time depending on where in Australia you are, they basically head north to warmer waters from mid-May to July for breeding and to give birth, and head south again in September or October. Experts say humpbacks are now estimated to be returning to pre-whaling levels, so whale watchers are expecting a bumper season in 2017
“We will definitely see more competitive groups of males showing aggression towards each other as they vie for a female to mate with,” said Zara King, a biologist with the Spirit of Gold Coast tourist vessel. “The males will tail slap and breach to impress, whereas the females will use similar behaviours as a form of aggression towards the males if they are not happy.”
In the far north, minke whales are usually the first visitors ahead of the much larger humpbacks, and the first whale of the season has already been spotted.
Staff from the Spirit of Freedom have provided the Cairns Post with a photo of a dwarf minke whale seen at the Ribbon Reefs, off the coast of Cooktown.
Tania Rivet from the Spirit of Freedom said the minke whale was spotted during the company’s first whale-watching trip of the season.
“The boat just departed for her first trip since its refit,” she told the Cairns Post. “Our lucky guests hung out with this little fellow, who was between 3-5 metres long, for over three hours.”
The most famous whale to migrate along Australia’s east coast is Migaloo, the albino humpback whale.
