Ah November, the month where whale tragics everywhere begin to feel the pull of their obligations, work, family and friends.
As daily whale sightings begin to thin out, the spell lessens and then finally breaks and we rub our eyes as if we have been living in a dream for the last few months, a really great dream, not the type where you can’t find a bathroom or your teeth fall out, and we turn away, finally, from our favourite whale-watching haunt.
It’s estimated that about 40,000 humpback whales have passed the NSW coast on their way from warmer waters north where they head to breed and give birth to their summer feeding grounds in Antarctica. This is one of those good news environmental stories (and boy, do we need them!) where numbers have increased steadily since the closure of Australia’s last whaling station in 1978.
Yes, 1978 and without giving too much away, this means the end of whaling in Australia occurred within my lifetime! What a change a few decades makes. It seems, according to the car parking situation at my favourite spot at least, more people than ever are appreciating the annual migration, which at 5000km is actually one of the longest undertaken by mammals.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing (or cruising, or breaching) for these marine mammals though. This year National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have reported more whale entanglements than ever. They have a highly specialised team of seven who, along with citizen scientists sending in reports from land and drone pilots assisting in locating and monitoring entangled individuals, successfully freed 11 humpbacks.
If you haven’t been out whale watching during the southern migration, there is still time. The bulk of whales have passed us already so there might be a tad more whale waiting than whale watching but that’s part of the fun.
The season usually runs to mid November, sometimes a little longer, and it’s the cows and calves who are usually the stragglers, so expect to see a lot of splashing and mimicry as the babies learn how to be a whale and copy the head lunges, fluke (tail) slapping and breaching that their mums do.
My two favourite spots for a spot of whale waiting are Bass Point, Shellharbour and Woonona Pool. At Bass Point they come in very close and you can occasionally hear them trumpet like elephants and the thud of their bodies hit the water. Woonona Pool has also turned out to be an excellent spot with some near and far encounters, loads of dolphins to watch for and, of course, the ocean pool for a quick dip.
And if you want to contribute to whale research, any clear shots you get of a whale fluke can be uploaded to Happy Whale. Whale tails have unique markings, just like our fingerprints, so individuals can be identified and their movements tracked. This is especially helpful in following the progress of previously entangled whales.
So, it’s time to pack away the camera, put away the binoculars and say goodbye to the giants of the ocean. Okay, maybe one last look over my shoulder before I leave.
If you see an entangled whale, contact the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) on 02 9415 3333 or National Parks and Wildlife on 1300 072 757
