This Month:

Celebrating Queensland’s Humpback Migration, FREE migration calendar, How whale poo fights climate change, Humpback fast facts, Teaching Human Impact, Out & About this month, Ocean Creature Feature. 

Woohoo!!!! The Humpbacks are Back

It’s that exciting time of year when humpback whales migrate up and down the Queensland coastline from the Antarctic to mate and give birth in warmer waters. The arrival of the whales is celebrated throughout East Coast Australia and we reckon it’s the greatest show on earth! Why not head down to the coast and join in the celebration?

Read our BLOG to find out when and where to see the Annual Humpback Migration on East Coast Australia and learn a whole lot more about it.

Click below for our downloadable FREE Humpback Migration Calendar (see foot of email)

How Whale Poo Fights Climate Change – The Whale Pump

As whales surface from deep dives to breathe and poo, they circulate huge amounts of nutrients from the sea floor. This process is called the “Whale Pump”.

The whale poo acts as an excellent fertiliser for ocean plants called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is at the bottom of the food chain and is a very important primary producer (food source) for the marine ecosystem. It also removes millions of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere and produces huge amounts of oxygen.

These tiny organisms (phytoplankton) absorb one-third of the carbon dioxide humans breathe out. They also produce half of the planet’s oxygen. So, as you can see, keeping this process working and our oceans healthy is crucial to our survival!

During long migrations, such as the one currently taking place off the East Coast of Australia, whales travel from nutrient-rich areas to nutrient-poor areas. This journey transports essential nutrients across the ocean in a process known as the “Great Whale Conveyor Belt”. So, whale migration has a big impact on the health of our oceans too.

Over 20,000 humpback whales are traveling up our coast right now! This is an amazing opportunity to teach students curriculum topics using an iconic, local theme. What better way to bring learning to life than to host an Ocean Life Education incursion at your school, then take a trip out to watch the amazing spectacle happening firsthand here in Queensland?

Programs & Free Resources

Humpbacks Course & Resources

Want to learn more about Australia’s iconic humpback whales?

Check out our online course and teaching resources. – Both contain awesome videos, infographics, maps, fast facts, quizzes, and more!

Our Programs: Teaching Human Impact

Our Human Impact program  ‘The Earth Under Threat’ aims to educate and inspire children to want to learn more and protect our oceans.

Students:

• Learn what humans do can harm the marine environment
• Identify how changes to the marine environment; like weather patterns, land clearing, over-fishing, and pollution, affect it, its creatures, and us
• Realise individuals can make a difference in caring for the marine environment and the need for all humans to accept personal responsibility for protecting it

To find out more, click HERE

Key dates coming up:

September 2022

4th  – National Wildlife Day

7th  – Threatened Species Day

18th – World Clean Up Day

17th – Int. Coastal Cleanup Day

17th – World Manta Day

18th – Sea Otter Awareness Week

24th – Fish Amnesty Day

Support a whale charity:

Whale & Dolphin Conservation
Marine Conservation
Sea Shepherd
Humpbacks & Highrises

DOWNLOAD FREE MIGRATION CALENDAR

The post OCEAN NEWS – Watching Queensland’s Humpback Migration appeared first on Ocean Life Education.

It’s that exciting time of year when humpback whales migrate up and down the Queensland coastline from the Antarctic to mate and give birth in warmer waters. The arrival of the whales is celebrated throughout East Coast Australia and we reckon it’s the greatest show on earth! Why not head down to the coast and join in the celebration? Read on to find out when and where to see the annual humpback migration on East Coast Australia and to learn a whole lot more about it…

Get your Humpback Whale Migration Calendar below

Book a Humpback Whale themed incursion or Check out our Humpback Whale Teaching Resource Pack

The Best Time to see the Humpback Whale Migration on the East Coast

The exact timing varies depending on the temperature of the water, among other factors, but generally the best time to see humpback whales on the East Coast is between May and November each year.

The whales firstly migrate north up the East Coast, then can be seen migrating back south from September to November. This is the best time to see the humpback whale migration as they often have calves and swim close to the shore in order to protect the calves from predators.

Remember!

Calm morning waters make humpback whales easier to spot but sunsets make for spectacular photos!

The Best Places to See Humpback Whales in Queensland

The best places to see humpback whales in Queensland are considered to be the Sunshine Coast, The Great Barrer Reef, and Hervey Bay.

The humpback whale’s spectacular acrobatic displays can be easily seen from the shore or from a viewpoint, but if you want to get closer, take a whale watching tour.

Don’t forget to ensure you book with a company that operates in a respectful manner as whales need to be protected from human impact.

The Best Places to See Humpback Whales on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast

You can easily see whales on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from the shore. Sometimes you’ll see several pods at once as the view points tend to offer 180 degree viewing. Not many people can say they can watch whales from close to their own doorstep!

The best places on the Sunshine Coast include:

Coolum: Point Perry or Point Arkwright, Coolum

Kawana: Point Cartwright

Moffat Beach Headland

Noosa: Hells Gate, Noosa National Park

Alexandra Headland

The Best Places to See Humpback Whales near Brisbane

If you live in or are visiting Queensland’s biggest city, Brisbane, then North Stradbroke is the best place to see humpback whales from the shoreline. It’s an easy and very beautiful 50 minute boat ride from the outskirts of Brisbane. North Stradbroke is home to a large Aboriginal population which celebrates the arrival of the whales each year.

Whale Watching Tours in Queensland

If you wish to do a whale watching tour in Queensland, you could find the whales swimming under your boat. It’s really not uncommon as whales can be very inquisitive!

Boats are not permitted to go within three hundred meters of whales but if they come to you, that’s another matter. Our recommended spots for whale watching boat tours are Mooloolaba, Hervey Bay (about a quarter of humpbacks pass through here), Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.

Humpback Whale Migration Events & Celebratons

Humpback whale events and celebrations take place annually along Queensland’s coast. The Quandamooka Aboriginal people of North Stradbroke Island host a “Welcome the whales” traditional celebration and no wonder, the island has some great vantage points for watching the show!

Further north, Hervey Bay is famous for the Hervey Bay Whale Festival. Hervey Bay is unlike anywhere else along the ‘humpback highway’, as many whales stop here to spend around ten days resting, socialising and playing before continuing their trip back south to the Antarctic for the summer months.

Want to know more humpback whale facts?

Check out our online humpback whale course to learn a whole lot more humpback whale facts. The course includes awesome videos, infographics, a whale-watching guide, migration calendar, maps, quizzes and more! 

Click here for teaching resources

How Can I Protect Whales? 

You can make a difference and protect whales while watching them by following the following guidelines:

Educate yourself and tell friends

Whale watch with a thoughtful and responsible company

Report sick or injured animals

Reduce plastic usage

Support a whale charity such as:

Whale & Dolphin Conservation
Marine Conservation
Sea Shepherd
Humpbacks & Highrises

Get your FREE Humpback Whale Migration Calendar

The post Where to See the Annual Humpback Migration on East Coast Australia appeared first on Ocean Life Education.