Category Archives: Whales

Annual Humpback Whale Migration – East Coast Australia

Each year between April and November, Australia’s eastern coastline comes alive with the spectacular acrobatic displays of humpback whales. After a summer of feeding on krill in Antarctic waters, these charismatic animals migrate north to sub-tropical waters where they mate and give birth. And we are lucky enough to be able to easily spot them on their travels from our majestic coastline! Read on for more fascinating information about the migration and for FREE Humpback Whale Resources.

Why not book a Humpback Whale themed incursion or check out our Humpback Whale Teaching Resource Pack.

During their annual migration of up to 10 000 kilometres, humpbacks can easily be seen off the coast of New South Wales and Queensland.

The exact timing of the migration period can vary from year to year depending on water temperature, sea ice, predation risk, prey abundance and the location of their feeding ground.

Humpback Migration Route and Timing

The majority of humpbacks in Australian waters migrate north from June to August, and back towards the Southern Ocean from September to November.

Migration Grouping

Groups of young males typically lead the migration while pregnant cows and cow-calf pairs bring up the rear. Adult breeding animals form the bulk of the migration in the middle stages.

Humpback Whale Facts

  • Humpback whale length: 12- 16 metres
  • Humpback whale weight: up to 50 tonnes or 6 elephants!
  • Average birth weight of humpback: 2 tonnes
  • Birth length: 4-5 metres
  • Humpback whale gestation period: 11 months
  • Favoured birth temperature: 22-25 degrees
  • Origin of Humpback Whale name: the name comes from their very long pectoral fins and knobby looking head which looks a bit like a hump!
  • Easily tracked as identifiable by the unique markings on their tail fluke – so we can learn lots about them!
  • Humpback whale travel speed: up to 8 km an hour
  • Migration travel speed: humpback average only 1.6km an hour during the migration as they rest and socialise along the way
  • Humpbacks sing songs that may be heard hundreds of kilometres away
  • East Coast Australia’s most famous humpback whale is white and has an Aboriginal name, ‘Migaloo’ which means white fella.

The humpback whale is not the largest whale found in Australian waters but we reckon its’ the most iconic.

 

Click here for FREE Humpback Whale Resources

Click here for our Humpback Whale Online Course

Click here for our Humpback Whale Teaching Resource Pack

Humpback Heaven

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Most marine creatures that pass our coast prefer to go un-noticed – but not the humpbacks.  These massive mammals like to announce their presence with spectacular displays that still leave scientists guessing as to why.

Certainly whales need to surface to breathe – their huge exhalations rising metres into the air after 20 minutes of down time underwater.  But the humpbacks have turned airtime into an artform.  Giant pectoral fin slaps, tail splashes and spy hops (poking their head out to look for an appreciative crowd) are just the precursor to the main event.

Full body breaches are the show stopper for any whale watcher.  And the degree of difficulty needs to be fully appreciated.  An adult can easily measure 16 metres and weigh up to 30 tonnes and to launch something of that size out of the water (often time and time again) is nothing short of astounding.

But to what end?  It’s not a way to flee predators or to capture food – humpbacks are on an enforced diet during their time away from Antarctica – their preferred menu of krill remains in the icy waters while the whales make their annual pilgrimage to mate and calve in the warmer region of the Pacific.

The most plausible theories to explain the unusual antics are guesses at best.  One thought is the breaches and slaps are a form of communication – a way to let other humpbacks in the vicinity know where they’re at.  Another is it signifies a change in behaviour – when a whale is going for rest mode to more active travelling – like a giant stretch as they wake themselves up.

But many believe they just do it because they can.  Humpbacks are known to be curious, intelligent animals and like most mammals they are capable of having fun. They leap for joy simply because it feels good.

In the past, this playfulness has contributed to their demise, with the species almost hunted to extinction in the early part of the 20th century as they were easy prey to spy.  Today the biggest threats are net entanglements and strikes from over zealous boaties wanting to get as close as possible to these magnificent creatures.

But we all play our part – with Plastic Free July upon us, it is the perfect opportunity to consider our impact on the ocean and the quality of the water the humpbacks and so many other marine creatures swim through.  Don’t be fooled by their size and energy, these really are our most vulnerable visitors and the southerners we want to keep returning for many years to come.