Whale watching
June 22nd 2007 11:54
If you are on the East Coast of Australia now would be the best time to have a peek at the whales that are making their way up north. (Make sure you keep an eye out for Migaloo ('white fella" in Aboriginal language), a very rare albino whale).
Hervey Bay is one of the best places to see these gentle giants from. Leaving humanity far behind you jump on board one of the vessels (Tour Operators will normally pick you up from your accommodation) and head out on the aqua sea, always keeping an eye on the water for any splashes and water spouts or on the shores of Fraser Island for any lurking dingoes.
It takes a while and a bit of patience to catch up with these guys. Some whale facts and photos to follow...
Whaling was Australia`s first primary industry and during the late 1820`s really started to boom. For the 12 years between 1950 and 1962 almost 125 000 humpback whales were killed along Australia`s East Coast.
In 1939 Humpback Whaling was banned for ten years to allow numbers to increase after they became dangerously low. Finally in 1978 all whaling ceased in Australia. During the period between 1954 and 1962 10 000 tons of oil were produced from 1146 whales processed at the Byron Bay Whaling Station.
Humpback Whales are the ones that you will see swimming along the East Coast of Australia, although some other species have apparently been spotted too. 1963 saw them becoming protected after their numbers dwindled. They get their name from the 'hump' their back forms when diving. Their migration is one of 7000 nautical miles which is one of the longest migrations known in the animal world.
Although play is an important part of any baby`s life it is particularly important in the animal kingdom because it is a time when they can learn movements that may save their life. Breaching is when the animal 'jumps' almost completely out of the water. If a predator is after a young one this can mean life or death.
Whales have two lungs each the size of a small car so when exhaling you can imagine the force of air that comes out - hence the spray. Whilst out watching these creatures keep a watchful eye out for dolphins, turtles and dugongs too!
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Hervey Bay is one of the best places to see these gentle giants from. Leaving humanity far behind you jump on board one of the vessels (Tour Operators will normally pick you up from your accommodation) and head out on the aqua sea, always keeping an eye on the water for any splashes and water spouts or on the shores of Fraser Island for any lurking dingoes.
It takes a while and a bit of patience to catch up with these guys. Some whale facts and photos to follow...
Whaling was Australia`s first primary industry and during the late 1820`s really started to boom. For the 12 years between 1950 and 1962 almost 125 000 humpback whales were killed along Australia`s East Coast.
In 1939 Humpback Whaling was banned for ten years to allow numbers to increase after they became dangerously low. Finally in 1978 all whaling ceased in Australia. During the period between 1954 and 1962 10 000 tons of oil were produced from 1146 whales processed at the Byron Bay Whaling Station.
Humpback Whales are the ones that you will see swimming along the East Coast of Australia, although some other species have apparently been spotted too. 1963 saw them becoming protected after their numbers dwindled. They get their name from the 'hump' their back forms when diving. Their migration is one of 7000 nautical miles which is one of the longest migrations known in the animal world.
Although play is an important part of any baby`s life it is particularly important in the animal kingdom because it is a time when they can learn movements that may save their life. Breaching is when the animal 'jumps' almost completely out of the water. If a predator is after a young one this can mean life or death.
Whales have two lungs each the size of a small car so when exhaling you can imagine the force of air that comes out - hence the spray. Whilst out watching these creatures keep a watchful eye out for dolphins, turtles and dugongs too!
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Comment by Wendi
I may follow up your post with an Animal Magick segment on whales (linking to you and crediting you as inspiration, of course). It won't be today, and I'm aiming for horses tomorrow, but maybe Sunday I can do a bit of digging on whale magick. I don't believe I've ever looked them up before...
W
Comment by katyzzz
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I'm coming back to this one.
Those photographs are great, just think how they'd be with a superior lens, I'm trying to help not hinder, there are some wonderful shots there, thank heavens for the speed of modern cameras.
The banner was sensational, too.
Love you,
katyzzz
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
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Thanks for sharing the pics and the great commentary.
Comment by katyzzz
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Here I am again as promised.
Apart from what I said before, the lesson was great especially the info about the whales' lungs.
Easy to tell they don't smoke, a small car each, like wow.
I am finding great and wow are beginning to form the bulk of my vocabulary, although I could think of worse. This is something I shall have to work on - it'll be good for my brain - must use as many neural connections as possible.
katyzzz
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
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katyzzz
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Yes please do that would be great. You cannot imagine their beauty until you see them in the water... I would hate that my kids don`t get to do the same. Jumping out and making their huge splashes, playing with their little ones... and hearing their songs... it`s all magical.
I only touched on the very basics - there is a lot of whaling history along the coastline here with the island just off the coast being one of the big whaling stations in days gone by. We are really lucky to get them coming past, sometimes within our view from the shores... as soon as I hear they are in town I`m off to the beach quick smart
Look forward to reading your post.
ash
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Yes I agree the lens leaves the pictures a little blurred and grainy. I was using a lens from my other camera - I know exactly what you mean. I have a 700 that my uncle gave me AGES ago but it is ANCIENT! I have not yet tried it out on the digital cam so will have a go and see what happens.
~laughing~ I often type a comment and think, 'Oh my goodness my vocabulary is soooooo bad!' I also need to start brushing up
This photo was taken with a small pocket digital - I was really impressed how they came out - Brisbane by night - can`t wait to get up there with a better cam and see the difference!
ash
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Don`t you ever think... it must be so great to watch these animals in Australia? I think that every time I hear someone say something about a place... just like you have said about watching them from Mexico... ~laughs~ I come from a small town.. forgive me, we used to have to use our imaginations before the internet made the world such a small place
Thanks for coming by - great to see your smiling face!
ash
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
What a wonderful Post!
wow : this fellow has his 'little show' down to the last 'T' doesn't he?
Even that special little wave, before the quiet build up to the grand finale, splash down...*glee*
Sheer delight and beautifully captured at all the right moments... God I wish I had your eye for photography during my photo-journalist years...surely HD's all the way...
Thanks for sharing this Ash, just beautiful.
Lilla...
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
This was such a great day! The whales put on a superb display for us. The year before I had been out here in Morton Bay and we hardly saw anything... this was last year in Hervey Bay.
These animals were incredibly friendly coming right up to the boat. They slapped the water with their huge arms, waving to us all afternoon. It really was the most perfect day.
Gosh thanks for the comment ~blush~. I am seriously thinking about trying to get some photo`s on the market - but I am not very good at selling myself ~sound familiar?
thanks for your comment it is always quite the head spin to get such great encouragement
ash
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
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Here in Juneau, AK we fish a lot. Several friends have had their boats over turned and or damaged when the whales decided to view them up close. It's an interesting twist to the whale human dynamics.
I love the diversity of whales we see here; Humpbacks, Minke, Beluga, Narwhals and killer whales to name a few. Surprisingly, polar bears hunt the Beluga whales and are successful at it. Whales are still hunted annually by many of my Eskimo friends in Barrow, AK. Sushi anyone?
Raven
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I was in love with the kid from Free Willy.... ahhh what a cutie!
You gotta love nature. So much looks impossible - and then it grabs you by both cheeks and glares you straight in the eye and has a good ol' laugh at your expense!
Gagging at the sushi idea... tried it but that taste of the seaweed? Just not for me? Actually I think it was the smell more than anything
ash
Comment by Anonymous
I'm visiting your blog from the link on your comment at Openbook. Love this post. Just like everyone else who has commented here, I love whales and the watching of. For some east coast whale history, visit Eden.
They are steeped in it. And the book Killers of Eden is a wonderful read of what life in a whale town was all about before the big companies moved in and destroyed what was a way of life that supported whole communties without theatening whale populations. These families considered themselves lucky to get half a dozen whales a year. Some years they got one. Then the big whalers came along and killed hundreds in one season!
Again ... as always, we got greedy.
I had an experience with a whale when I was 12 and growing up in Canada. I wrote a short story about it on my blog. It's called Whale Summer. Have a look if you get a chance. I'm subscribing to your blog. Look for ward to more great posts. See Ya.
Comment by Joanne
Open Book
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Thanks for a great comment and for subscribing. I hope you enjoy the travels.
That sounds like a great book. I wasn`t too clued up on the whaling history until I went on this day trip and now I find it fascinating. I have always had romantic notions of tiny fishing villages - they are always portrayed as these idyllic, tight communities, so I really look forward to reading this book. As you say, and as with so many things, big companies have to move in a spoil it.
Thanks for letting me know about your story. I love anything that is about people, about lives and adventures and real experiences... real in every sense of the word (you latest book you reviewed is another I`m keeping my eye out for purely for this reason!)
Thanks for stopping by, look forward to seeing you more
Ash