Whale Watcher
From a rocky headland, I watched as two whales made their way across Botany Bay. It didn't take long. Soon I could hear their breathing and see clusters of barnacles on their bodies, some with tassels.
I followed them as they hugged the headland, running along narrow sandy paths and over rocky platforms. This was the closest I had been to whales and my third time to Cape Banks, near Sydney.
The long journey
In Antarctica, during December to mid-March, humpback whales are busy feeding on small shrimp-like creatures called krill. This fattens them up for their long journey north.
Then from mid-March to early April, and depending on sex and maturity, the whales leave in groups at different times. These groups follow routes up the coast of eastern and western Australia and eastern New Zealand.
Heading north, they will breed and give birth in the subtropical and tropical waters of Australia and the South Pacific Islands. Other groups from Antarctica travel up the east and west coast of South America and Africa.
On average, they can travel approximately 1,500km each month; some will rest in bays and inlets on their journey. Although whales can live off their blubber, they may feed on shrimp and small fish during migration. Usually, the first whales spotted along the coast of Australia and New Zealand are around May.
Humpback underwater
Humpback Whales in New Zealand waters
Most whales migrate north pass New Zealand from June to July. Although some whales follow the entire length of the eastern side of New Zealand, most pass-through Cook Strait and continue up the west coast of the North Island. Near Taranaki, they begin to move offshore towards New Caledonia, via Norfolk Island. Once there, they will breed and calve.
A mother and calve
Other whales travel through Foveaux Strait between Steward Island and the South Island. Research indicates they head west towards Australia, and others will travel up the west coast and branch off around Jackson Bay, South East New Zealand, towards Australia.
On their return journey in November and December, most whales will travel down the west coast and a smaller percentage down the east coast. Whales were severely depleted by whalers, and since then, their recovery has been slow. The study of their migration routes is ongoing.
A Humpback breaching
Humpback Whales in Australian waters
In Australia, most whales heading north are viewed from June to August. On their return journey to the Southern Ocean, most are seen during September and November. The west coast whales head to the waters off the Kimberly coast around Broome to breed and calve. East coast whales go to the Great Barrier Reef. Because of the vast size of the reef, their breeding and calving areas are still not identified.
Feeding time
Australian humpbacks have recovered quickly compared to New Zealand's population. For example, in 1963, when whaling ended, the population of east coast whales was estimated at just over one hundred individuals. Now it is estimated at approximately 17,000.
Extra Info
Population estimates for Australian and New Zealand humpbacks pre-whaling days were approximately 40,000.
Between 1949 and 1962, over 35,000 humpback whales had been killed.
Over two seasons, the former Soviet Union had killed 25,000 humpbacks by illegal whaling.
Scientific name: Megaptera novaeangliae
Lifespan: Estimates from 50 to 100 years
Size: 12 to 15 metres
Diet: Krill and small fish
Habitat: Polar and tropical waters depending on the season. Coastal and the open sea.
Migration status: Longest of any mammal.
Identification: By their tail flukes.
Conservation status: Oceania populations are rated; Endangered with the IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature.
PHOTO CREDITS
Banner, Image by Greg Poulos, "Humpback Whale Fluke" (Cropped), (CC BY-SA 4.0), Humpbacks in Antarctica, Image by jan-borgstede "Three humpbacks at Antarctica" (Cropped), (CC BY-SA 4.0), An Antarctic Krill, Image by Uwe Kils Krill666jpg ammended by Amada 44 via Wikimedia, (CC BY-SA.3.0), Humpback Underwater, Image by Christopher Michel, "Humpback Whales", (CC BY 4.0), A mother and calf, Image by texaus1, "Humpback whale and calf at Rainbow Beach" (CC BY 4.0) A humpback breaching, Image by Michele W "MG_8915", (CC BY-ND 4.0,) Feeding time, Image by Eric Pheterson, "Humpback Whale Lunge- Feeding among Sea Lions. (CC BY 4.0)
Banner, Image by Greg Poulos, "Humpback Whale Fluke" (Cropped), (CC BY-SA 4.0), Humpbacks in Antarctica, Image by jan-borgstede "Three humpbacks at Antarctica" (Cropped), (CC BY-SA 4.0), An Antarctic Krill, Image by Uwe Kils Krill666jpg ammended by Amada 44 via Wikimedia, (CC BY-SA.3.0), Humpback Underwater, Image by Christopher Michel, "Humpback Whales", (CC BY 4.0), A mother and calf, Image by texaus1, "Humpback whale and calf at Rainbow Beach" (CC BY 4.0) A humpback breaching, Image by Michele W "MG_8915", (CC BY-ND 4.0,) Feeding time, Image by Eric Pheterson, "Humpback Whale Lunge- Feeding among Sea Lions. (CC BY 4.0)