Of the many whale species, perhaps it is the Humpback Whale that has enjoyed an amazing comeback from being almost hunted to extinction and this species now numbers tens of thousands. The ‘save the whale’ movement that began in the 1970s was the impetus for worldwide action to ban whaling and coupled with moving shipping lanes, all whale species are now recovering in numbers.
The Humpback Whale Annual Migration
If you happen to live in NSW, you are perfectly placed to witness thousands of Humpback and Southern Right Whales as they head north to the warm tropical waters near the Great Barrier Reef. The migration commences in May and lasts through to July and whale watching in Eden really gets busy at this time, with family-owned and managed whale watching boats that take you to the action
Breeding in Tropical Waters
The Humpbacks know where the best locations are for rearing their young and after spending 6-8 weeks in the warm tropical region of the Great Barrier Reef, the mothers and their calves head back south along the coast.
The Return Trip
When the mothers think their young are ready, they head back to their feeding grounds in Antarctica and this is said to be the best time to watch whales, during the months of August and September. The mothers swim close to the shoreline, preferring the calmer, shallow waters for their calves, which are experiencing life for the first time and are very playful. If you can make it at this time, you are assured of encounters with these majestic creatures and the tour operator actually gives you a guarantee of another free trip in the event no whales are sighted.
Humpback Whale Surface Behaviours
The Humpback, like most species, is very active on the surface and they exhibit the following:
- Spy Hop – The whale sits vertically in the water and looks around before sinking back down.
- Tail Slap – Just prior to diving, the whales often slap their fluke (tail) down hard on the water surface, which is thought to remove parasites.
- Blow – The boat skipper looks out for the blow, when the whale comes to the surface and exhales through a hole in the top of the head. This shoots a spray of white water into the air and the crew use this to sight pods of whales as they make their way along the coastline.
If you would like to experience a close-up encounter with whales, book a spot on one of the whale watching boats that depart from Eden and be ready for the experience of a lifetime.
Related posts
Popular Posts
Recent Posts
- The Essence of Unique Stays: A Look at Themed Hotels September 26, 2023
- Essential Factors to Think About When Searching For the Perfect Thai Pool Villa September 19, 2023
- The Importance of Privacy in Holiday Accommodations August 5, 2023
- Unravel the Splendour of Villa Deva August 2, 2023
- Elevating Corporate Events: Unveiling the Benefits of Private Function Rooms July 19, 2023
- Investing in a Sea View Condo: What You Need to Know June 23, 2023
- The Benefits of Staying at a Beachfront Hotel June 14, 2023
Archives
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- September 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- August 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- May 2018