Latest news with #humpbackwhales
BreakingNews.ie
17 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Commuter traffic stops for whales on Australia's humpback highway
The ferry was late, but not because of the usual traffic. Sydney commuters watched from an idling boat this month as humpback whales the size of buses surfaced nearby, halting the vessel's passage across the harbour. Advertisement The curious mammals seemed to be watching them back. In June and July, it is not uncommon for whales to stop water traffic in Sydney. Winter heralds the opening of the so-called humpback highway, a migratory corridor along Australia's east coast used by about 40,000 of the massive creatures as they travel from feeding grounds in freezing Antarctica to tropical breeding areas off Queensland state. People watch a whale swim past at Boat Harbour north of Sydney (Mark Baker/AP) 'It's blubber to blubber,' said Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Sydney and author of the book Humpback Highway. Advertisement During peak traffic periods the bustling coastal city of 5.5 million people becomes one of the world's few urban centres where you might see a breaching whale on your morning walk, while buying a coffee, or waiting at a bus stop – any place you can see the sea. The reason humpbacks on the highway are so visible is because of their size – adults can be 52ft to 56ft long and weigh 40 tonnes – and their proximity to people. On their 6,000 mile journey from icy to balmy waters, one of the world's longest mammal migrations, the creatures stay close to shore. 'They are incredibly curious,' said Ms Pirotta. 'There's been times where there's been whales in the harbour this year where they've literally halted traffic.' Advertisement The migratory route is known as the humpback highway (Mark Baker/AP) Australians get so close to the creatures that some have attracted fans. Among them are Migaloo, an all-white humpback whose sightings spanned 1991 to 2020, and Blade Runner, named for her tussle with a boat propeller that created her long, distinctive scars. Some keen whale watchers seek a closer look. On a recent morning, Ben Armstrong, a veteran skipper of a whale-watching boat in Port Stephens, a scenic harbour north of Sydney, slowed the engine as two humpbacks breached nearby. He encouraged passengers to put down their phones and enjoy the spectacle. Advertisement Mr Armstrong keeps his tourist boat at distances mandated by Australia's state laws, but inquisitive whales often go off-script. Once, the skipper let his boat drift for an hour while four or five humpbacks treated the vessel 'like a bath toy', playfully preventing it from moving forward or back. Two humpback whales breach off the coast of Port Stephens (Mark Baker/AP) Vincent Kelly, who travelled from Geelong, Victoria, to witness the migration was a recent passenger. Over two hours, he watched half a dozen humpbacks perform breath-taking aerial manoeuvres. 'It was unbelievable to me,' Mr Kelly said. 'I didn't expect to actually see a whale. But they were everywhere.' Advertisement The humpback gridlock marks a sharp reversal of fortune for the whales. They were once hunted for meat and oil, and numbers dwindled to a few hundred before humpbacks became a protected species in the southern hemisphere in 1963. The humpback boom to about 40,000 since has brought the creatures into more frequent contact with people than before. The population is still growing steadily, amplifying concerns about how humans and giants of the sea can safely share the coastline. But it also puts millions of Australians a short walk and a little luck away from encountering one of the largest mammals on the planet.
ABC News
a day ago
- Science
- ABC News
Humpback whales using Hobart's River Derwent for rest during northern migration
Humpback whales have been spotted in the River Derwent as far up as Montrose in Hobart's northern suburbs. Marcus Salton, a wildlife program officer with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said there had been a "healthy" amount of sightings this migration season. "The whales are just cruising around enjoying the shallower, calmer waters and having a bit of a rest period before they continue up the north coast," Dr Salton said. "It's a big traverse for them to go from Antarctica across the Southern Ocean and then hit Australia. "At this time of the year, when the whales are migrating north to warmer waters, it's not unusual for us to see them getting up towards the Bowen Bridge." Dr Salton said sightings of humpbacks would start slowing down towards the end of June and early July. "We could see some around all winter and into spring, and then during spring we will see another influx as the whales start to move south," he said. He said different age groups transited at different times. "Even on their southern migration back to Antarctica, it's not unusual for us to see whales with calves doing some more of that resting behaviour in the many shallow and protected bays we have here in Tasmania," he said. Dr Salton said there had been fewer sightings of southern right whales than usual. "They are in lower numbers, so we are very keen to hear about any sightings of southern right whales, in particular," he said. "They have a unique pattern of callosities or growths on their head, and we can photograph that unique pattern to identify individuals. "If we hear about southern right whales, we might look at putting up a plane or a drone to get some photos of those individuals to contribute to that national database." He said the lack of sightings could be due to a number of reasons, including people not reporting them or weather conditions. "We will see what happens with this season and take it from there in terms of level of concern for the southern right whales," he said. Dr Salton said southern right whales were known for "logging" behaviour, where they looked like a log floating on the water's surface. "They tend to like hanging out in shallow protected waters, and we've got a lot of that in the Derwent and Storm Bay," he said. He said there had been sightings of blue whales, including feeding behaviour off Tasmania's east coast. "It has happened before, but it's a bit unusual," he said. Dr Salton said fur seals and dolphins were known to go even further up the River Derwent than the Bowen Bridge. "They are usually chasing bait fish that are travelling up the river," he said. He said seals bred over summer, and then over winter they were fattening up and preparing for the next breeding season. "We see an influx of fur seals within the Derwent at this time of year, particularly feeding," he said. Dolphins enjoyed bait fish, which had been hanging around later than usual, Dr Salton said. "We might be seeing more of them in the Derwent than we usually would, but it's not unusual for us to see dolphins in the Derwent all year round," he said. Bec Williams and her family were lucky enough to watch the humpback whales from their boat on the River Derwent. "My husband recently bought a boat, and one of the conditions of that was that if there were ever whales about we need to go and see them," she said. Following the safety guidelines for observing whales, Ms Williams said she expected the whales to be on the southern side of the Bowen Bridge and was surprised to see them on the northern side. "I don't think people realise how incredible whales actually are. "We took our young kids out, and I told them people can go an entire lifetime without seeing anything like this, and we have it right in our backyard." She said viewing the whales from 100 metres away was still very impressive. Dr Salton said it was important that vessels followed the guidelines. "It keeps people safe and keeps the whales safe and minimises disturbance while they are here, and hopefully that will encourage them to use the area going forward," he said. "They're amazing animals; everyone is always in awe of them." Whale sightings can be reported by calling 0427 942 537.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Thousands of whales join the ‘humpback highway' along Australia's coast
Humpback whales undertake one of the world's longest mammal migrations, travelling from Antarctic feeding grounds to breeding areas off Australia 's coast during winter. This annual migration, involving approximately 40,000 whales, creates the "humpback highway" along Australia 's east coast, leading to frequent sightings near urban centres like Sydney. The whales' large size and tendency to stay close to shore make them highly visible, sometimes causing extraordinary events like halting ferry traffic in Sydney Harbour due to their curious nature. The humpback population has significantly recovered since becoming a protected species in 1963, leading to increased interactions with humans. While offering unique viewing opportunities, the growing whale population and human proximity raise concerns about entanglements, collisions, and potential changes to migratory patterns due to climate change and krill harvesting.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Commuter ferries held up as humpback whales migrate
Commuters experienced an extraordinary delay when their ferry journey across Sydney Harbour was unexpectedly halted by a pod of humpback whales. Travellers watched from an idling boat this month as humpback whales the size of buses surfaced nearby, and the curious mammals seemed to be watching them back. While unusual for many, such encounters are not uncommon in Sydney during June and July. The winter months herald the opening of the so-called humpback highway, a migratory corridor along Australia 's east coast used by about 40,000 of the massive creatures as they travel from feeding grounds in the icy waters of Antarctica to tropical breeding areas off Queensland. 'It's blubber to blubber,' said Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Sydney and author of the book 'Humpback Highway.' During peak traffic periods, the bustling coastal city of 5.5 million people becomes one of the world's few urban centres where you might see a breaching whale on your morning walk, while buying a coffee, or waiting at a bus stop – anyplace you can see the ocean. Whales cruise close to shore The reason humpbacks on the highway are so visible is due to their size – adults can be 16-17 meters (52-56 feet) in length, and weigh 40 tonnes – and their proximity to people. On their 10,000km journey from icy to balmy waters, one of the world's longest mammal migrations, the creatures stay close to shore. 'They are incredibly curious,' said Pirotta. 'There's been times where there's been whales in the harbour this year where they've literally halted traffic.' Australians get so close to the creatures that some have attracted fans. Among them are Migaloo, an all-white humpback whose sightings spanned 1991 to 2020, and Blade Runner, named for her tussle with a boat propeller that created her long, distinctive scars. Humpbacks go people-watching On a recent morning, Ben Armstrong, a veteran skipper of a whale-watching boat in Port Stephens, a scenic harbour north of Sydney, slowed the engine as two humpbacks breached nearby. He encouraged passengers to put down their phones and enjoy the spectacle. Armstrong keeps his tourist boat at distances mandated by Australia 's state laws, but inquisitive whales often go off-script. Once, the skipper let his boat drift for an hour while four or five humpbacks treated the vessel 'like a bath toy," playfully preventing it from moving forward or back. In another episode, a whale peeled away from its pod and rushed to the boat, 'like a dog greeting its master at the gate,' he said. It lounged for 40 minutes in the water, rubbing its massive fins against the vessel. 'It was like, 'Oh, there's that boat I really like,' said Armstrong. Vincent Kelly, who travelled from Geelong, Victoria, to witness the migration, was a recent passenger. Over two hours, he watched half a dozen humpbacks perform breathtaking aerial manoeuvres. 'It was unbelievable to me,' Kelly said. 'I didn't expect to actually see a whale. But they were everywhere.' The congestion marks a conservation comeback The humpback gridlock marks a sharp reversal of fortune for the whales. They were once hunted for meat and oil, and numbers dwindled to a few hundred before humpbacks became a protected species in the Southern Hemisphere in 1963. The humpback boom to about 40,000 since, has brought the creatures into more frequent contact with people than before. That means more entanglements with fishing nets or run-ins with watercraft. Where and when they appear has become less predictable too, with whales in recent years giving birth to calves the size of small cars in unexpected places. Harvesting of krill, which humpbacks eat in bulk, and heating seas due to climate change could be altering their migratory patterns, Pirotta said. The population is still growing steadily, amplifying concerns about how humans and giants of the sea can safely share the coastline. But it also puts millions of Australians a short walk and a little luck away from encountering one of the largest mammals on the planet. 'It grounds you, I think,' said Armstrong, the boat skipper. 'It makes you realise there's a lot more out there than what we think there is in nature.'
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Washington Post
Commuter traffic gives way for whales on Australia's humpback highway
PORT STEPHENS, Australia — The ferry was late, but not because of the usual traffic. Sydney commuters watched from an idling boat this month as humpback whales the size of buses surfaced nearby, halting the vessel's passage across the harbor. The curious mammals seemed to be watching them back. In June and July, it's not uncommon for whales to stop water traffic in Sydney. Winter heralds the opening of the so-called humpback highway, a migratory corridor along Australia's east coast used by about 40,000 of the massive creatures as they travel from feeding grounds in freezing Antarctica to tropical breeding areas off Queensland state. 'It's blubber to blubber,' said Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Sydney and author of the book 'Humpback Highway.' During peak traffic periods the bustling coastal city of 5.5 million people becomes one of the world's few urban centers where you might see a breaching whale on your morning walk, while buying a coffee, or waiting at a bus stop – anyplace you can see the ocean. The reason humpbacks on the highway are so visible is due to their size – adults can be 16-17 meters (52-56 feet) in length, and weigh 40 tonnes – and their proximity to people. On their 10,000km (6,000 mile) journey from icy to balmy waters, one of the world's longest mammal migrations, the creatures stay close to shore. 'They are incredibly curious,' said Pirotta. 'There's been times where there's been whales in the harbor this year where they've literally halted traffic.' Australians get so close to the creatures that some have attracted fans. Among them are Migaloo, an all-white humpback whose sightings spanned 1991 to 2020, and Blade Runner, named for her tussle with a boat propeller that created her long, distinctive scars. Some keen whale watchers seek a closer look. On a recent morning, Ben Armstrong, a veteran skipper of a whale-watching boat in Port Stephens, a scenic harbor north of Sydney, slowed the engine as two humpbacks breached nearby. He encouraged passengers to put down their phones and enjoy the spectacle. Armstrong keeps his tourist boat at distances mandated by Australia's state laws, but inquisitive whales often go off-script . Once, the skipper let his boat drift for an hour while four or five humpbacks treated the vessel 'like a bath toy,' playfully preventing it from moving forward or back. In another episode, a whale peeled away from its pod and rushed to the boat, 'like a dog greeting its master at the gate,' he said. It lounged for 40 minutes in the water, rubbing its massive fins against the vessel. 'It was like, 'Oh, there's that boat I really like,' said Armstrong. Vincent Kelly, who travelled from Geelong, Victoria, to witness the migration was a recent passenger. Over two hours, he watched half a dozen humpbacks perform breathtaking aerial maneuvers. 'It was unbelievable to me,' Kelly said. 'I didn't expect to actually see a whale. But they were everywhere.' The humpback gridlock marks a sharp reversal of fortune for the whales. They were once hunted for meat and oil, and numbers dwindled to a few hundred before humpbacks became a protected species in the Southern Hemisphere in 1963. The humpback boom to about 40,000 since has brought the creatures into more frequent contact with people than before. That means more entanglements with fishing nets or run-ins with watercraft. Where and when they appear has become less predictable too, with whales in recent years giving birth to calves the size of small cars in unexpected places. Harvesting of krill, which humpbacks eat in bulk, and heating seas due to climate change could be altering their migratory patterns, Pirotta said. The population is still growing steadily, amplifying concerns about how humans and giants of the sea can safely share the coastline. But it also puts millions of Australians a short walk and a little luck away from encountering one of the largest mammals on the planet. 'It grounds you, I think,' said Armstrong, the boat skipper. 'It makes you realize there's a lot more out there than what we think there is in nature.'
