Whale Watching New South Wales Australia Including • About Whales • Humpback Whales • Whale Migration • Southern Right Whales • Whale Life Cycle • Blue Whales • Whales in Sydney Harbour • Minke Whales • Aboriginal People & Whales • Dolphins • Typical Whale Behaviour • Orcas • Whale Species • Other Whale Species • Whales in Australia • Other Marine Species About Whales The whale species you are most likely to see along the New South Wales Coastline are • Humpback Whale • Southern Right Whale Throughout June and July Humpback Whales head north for breading before return south with their calves from September to November. Other whale species you may see include: • Minke Whale • Blue Whale • Sei Whale • Fin Whale • False Killer Whale • Orca or Killer Whale • Sperm Whale • Pygmy Right Whale • Pygmy Sperm Whale • Bryde’s Whale Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth’s surface and this vast environment is home to some of the Earth’s most fascinating creatures: whales. Whales are complex, often highly social and intelligent creatures. They are mammals like us. They breath air, have hair on their bodies (though only very little), give birth to live young and suckle their calves through mammary glands. But unlike us, whales are perfectly adapted to the marine environment with strong, muscular and streamlined bodies insulated by thick layers of blubber to keep them warm. Whales are gentle animals that have graced the planet for over 50 million years and are present in all oceans of the world. They capture our imagination like few other animals. The largest species of whales were hunted almost to extinction in the last few hundred years and have survived only thanks to conservation and protection efforts. Whale species There are currently 86 recognised whale species, ranging from the small Hector's dolphin (at about 1.4 metres long) to the gigantic blue whale, the largest animal on earth. Whale migration Whales meet their need for food and suitable calving areas by travelling long distances from cold feeding areas, to warm, shallower waters for calving and mating. Whale research Recent research has shown that dolphins are second only to humans in intelligence. The degree of intelligence of other cetaceans, such as whales and porpoises has not yet been determined. However, their sophisticated behaviour and ability to learn suggest they have a capacity for complex thinking. Whale life cycle Much is still unknown about the life histories of these majestic creatures, but scientists have made quite accurate estimations in regards to more common species. Like many mammals, these cetaceans go through ‘baby’ and ‘adolescent’ periods before reaching full maturity. Whale Migration Most whales migrate to eat and breed. For example, baleen whales feed mostly on krill, which is abundant in very cold waters. However, these cold waters are not a suitable environment in which to give birth – newborn calves are born without a protective blubber layer under their skin and would quickly freeze to death. So whales meet their need for food and suitable calving areas by travelling long distances from cold feeding areas, to warm, shallower waters for calving and mating. Migratory patterns Most large whales migrate, but migratory patterns vary from species to species and also vary within and between populations. For example, in right whale populations, migration seems to be undertaken mostly by pregnant females heading to warm waters to give birth, while both male and female humpback and gray whales seem to undertake seasonal migrations. Whales in Australian waters At least 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises can be found in Australian waters. Humpbacks and southern right whales are the most commonly seen whales along Australia’s coastline, but some other cetaceans that you may see include: • minke whales • orcas (killer whales) • pygmy right whales • Bryde’s whales • bottlenose dolphins • common dolphins Humpback whale migrations Humpbacks have a wide geographic range and are found in all the world’s oceans. During summer months, populations in the southern hemisphere spend their time in Antarctica feeding. In late autumn they begin an annual migratory route to their winter breeding and calving grounds in the warmer tropical waters of the Pacific. They return south in spring. Humpback whales migrate around 5000km on average, one of the longest migratory journeys of any mammal on Earth. Southern right whale migrations Southern right whales are similar to humpbacks in that they feed in Antarctica in the summer and then migrate north to Australia to breed and give birth (especially in southern corners of Australia, around the Great Australian Bight). On the east coast, southern right whales tend to migrate between Cape Byron and Antarctica, but have been seen as far north as Hervey Bay, Queensland. Whale Life Cycle Whales are remarkably diverse creatures with Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales experiencing very different life histories. Life cycles can vary quite dramatically species to species, but roughly divided, most life cycles can be split into the three stages of Baby, Adolescent and Adult. The duration of each stage varies substantially according to the species– and there are even species we know very little about! Baby whales Baby whales are called calves. The gestation period in most whale species is 11 to 16 months. Generally a single young is born, tail first likely in order to prevent drowning, and twins are very rare. The newborn calf is usually one-quarter to a third the length of the mother. The ‘baby’ stage runs from birth until the calf is weaned, during which time the calf frequently nurses on the mother’s nutrient rich milk. Baleen whales will wean their calves by their first summer when they are less than a year old, while toothed whales take up to 3 years to be completely weaned. Calves grow very rapidly, thanks to the extremely high proportion of fat and proteins contained in whale milk. Adolescent whales The adolescent, or juvenile, stage runs from the moment the calf is weaned to when it reaches sexual maturity. Again, this varies according to the species. Once weaned, juveniles start to mix with whales of the same age and gender. Male juvenile whales will form bachelor pods and leave their original pod. They will start searching for sexually mature cows, female whales, with whom to mate. Female juveniles also start exploring outside their pod, but they are more likely to return to their matriarchal pod or to their mother. Adult whales The adult whale stage starts when the whale reaches sexual maturity. This can occur between the ages of 6 and 13 years, varying dramatically depending on the species. Breeding often takes place seasonally in migrating species but in others it seems to occur through most of the year. In the adult stage, whales of both genders start searching for mates with whom to breed. Sexually mature whales migrate to warmer waters during winter to mate. This ensures that when they return the next year, their calves will be born in more temperate conditions. Mating takes place every two to three years for the cow as her gestation period lasts for between 10 and 14 months. Some whales, like Humpbacks can theoretically produce one calf each year, with a gestation period of 11-12 months, but this rarely ever happens as it would strain the mother too much to calve every year. Whales in Sydney Harbour Sydney is well positioned to see both the winter northern migration and the spring southern migration of the 'great' whales. Whales have been entering Sydney Harbour for centuries. Evidence of this can be found at Balls Head in Wollstonecraft, where ancient Aboriginal engravings (believed to be over 1000 years old) depict the image of a large whale. Visits since 2002 More recently there have been a number of whales entering Sydney Harbour. Humpback whales, including females, burdened with young calves, have sought shelter in bays like Manly. And though not as common in NSW waters, the southern right whale is very comfortable in the shallow warm waters of Sydney’s bays and estuaries. On several occasions since 2002 southern rights have entered the harbour, Pittwater or Botany Bay, to take up temporary residence and explore the smaller bays. In July 2002, a whale and its calf swam deep into the harbour, going underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. An exclusion zone was set up by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. This allowed onlookers to photograph and watch the whales, whilst allowing them to swim where they liked and be left relatively undisturbed. In 2003, three whales swam into the harbour and thrilled onlookers by frolicking in front of the Opera House. The whales were photographed spy hopping and tail slapping. In November 2007, a female humpback whale and her calf paid a short visit to the harbour. The whales were spotted near Bradleys Head, from where they made their way to Rose Bay before exiting the harbour a short while later. In 2009 whale watchers on board a whale cruise were lucky to witness a pod of orcas. More commonly known as killer whales, they were a rare sight, especially within the harbour. Increasing visits The increase in whales entering Sydney Harbour is partly due to improvements in the water quality. So hopefully these exciting animals will continue visiting and delighting Sydneysiders and visitors alike. Aboriginal People & Whales Aboriginal people along the Australian coast have a long association with whales. Rock engravings and contemporary stories show the strong relationship between local Aboriginal people, whales and The Dreaming. Some of these rock engravings and paintings are estimated to be over 1000 years old. Whales in Aboriginal Australia The whale is an important totem for numerous Aboriginal groups. A totem is an object or thing in nature that is adopted as a family or clan emblem.