Traditionally the humpbacks will give birth to their calves in the warm waters of the Whitsunday’s, around the end of August through to mid September, it is then that they will start their return journey back to the Antarctic, however what a delight it was to see two new born calves this week.

As we approached I thought it was a dolphin slapping its tail playing with the whales, then just as if to show her baby off the humpback mother swam directly to the boat and the little fellow put on a playful display.

A female will have a calf every second year, this calf can weigh between 1 – 3 tonnes , be 4-5 metres in length and will drink up to 600 litres of milk per day, it is one of the longest bonding relationships in the mammal world with the calves remaining with their mums for up to eighteen months before she will wean her baby off, the gestation period is eleven  months and they become sexually mature at the age of five.
If they are born on the East coast of Australia they will continue to migrate the east coast and likewise with the west coast.
Perhaps the warm sheltered waters of our bay are fast becoming the chosen breeding grounds for the Mums to birth.

The humbacks become sexually mature at the age of five and the gestation period is 11 months

Early Arrival for Baby Humpbacks is a post from: Moreton Bay Whale Watching Reports

This week we experienced the magical sound of the humpbacks singing, the males will sing to serenade the females….one large male will produce the call song and from there each and every other male will continue on with the same song,  however whilst the males sing to attract their potential mates the females make grunting loud social sounds.

Each and every year the song will change, it is passed on to the genetic memory of future whale generations.

If you are fortunate enough to have listened to the whales singing then you will understand how their music can filter into your senses and your soul, then and only then you are changed as a person.

Recordings of these songs are used to identify individual whales and possibly individual pods of whales as they navigate their particular oceans.  These melodious songs can be heard through the hull of a boat without the aid of the sophisticated underwater microphones.

Whilst diving in the pristine warm sheltered waters of the Moreton Bay Marine Park you will no doubt hear the whales sing.

CAPTAIN KERRY
BRISBANE WHALE WATCHING

WHALE MAIL is a post from: Moreton Bay Whale Watching Reports

The humpback is the most surface active of all the great whales displaying behavior that is simply breathtaking……. The pods were made up of mainly sub-adults who are the first to leave the freezing waters of the Antarctic making their way to the warm waters of the Whitsunday’s to give birth to their two tonne babies then travelling back down to the Antarctic, this journey is a 10 thousand mile round trip.

Whilst the anticipation was huge when the first blow was sighted, it was no comparison to the amazement of all on board when a young male approached and lifted its 4 meter pectoral fin and waved at us all, this is a very social behavior almost as if on cue, we experienced the mighty breach where they hurl their huge bodies out of the water and graceful fluke up dives. The fluke is how the humpback is identified with individual markings, almost like a human’s fingerprint we are able to track and observe the same whales each year.

So exciting folks, tune in for next week’s whale mail.

Captain Kerry

A Huge Breach Welcomes Us To The 2010 Season! is a post from: Moreton Bay Whale Watching Reports

Brisbane Whale Watching on 4BC Morning Show is a post from: Moreton Bay Whale Watching Reports

Season 2010 will officially commence on Saturday 26th June as a celebration day for all to mark Brisbane Whale Watching’s 15th anniversary! Launch day will be a celebration of our 15th year in operation and a welcome back to our beloved whales.

“We look forward to welcoming guests from near and far to share in an unforgettable up close whale encounter as we celebrate Season 2010,” said Kerry Lopez, captain and managing director of Brisbane Whale Watching.

“With the Eastern seaboard stock now back to full recovery since its pre-endangered levels, we estimate up to 12,000 whales will be sighted in the bay this season which should represent approximately 10-12% growth on previous season. This is confirmation of a healthy whale population migrating through the bay… amazing when you think back to 1964 when we had just 100!” confirmed Ms Lopez.

Brisbane Whale Watching is privileged to be one of only two permit holders licensed to operate commercial cruises in the Moreton Bay Marine Park – an aquatic paradise just a splash from Brisbane CBD.

“Not only are there the countless pods of playful Humpback whales to be sighted, but also the dolphins, logger-head turtles, bird-life and also some special repeat visitors, like Stitches, the whale identified with a cross mark.”

The multi-million dollar purpose built luxury catamaran, MV Eye-Spy is skippered by the South Pacific’s only female captain of a whale watching venture, Captain Kerry Lopez. Built to specifications for whale watching expeditions, Eye-Spy represents the ultimate in design, stability and technology. With a capacity to host up to three hundred guests, the six viewing decks and large bow allow for unobstructed viewing from all points. Floor to ceiling glass with air-conditioned comfort means staying inside will not hinder your viewing pleasure.

Enhanced seating along with excellent sea keeping qualities makes traveling to and from the whale sighting grounds both comfortable and enjoyable. Fitted with low noise propellers to minimize noise, while electronically controlled engines reduce fuel usage and exhaust emissions all ensure MV Eye-Spy remains environmentally friendly to both the whales and all other marine life.

The Brisbane Whale Watching experience includes a delicious morning and afternoon tea, plus gourmet buffet lunch and expert marine commentary. Tours depart daily from the Redcliffe Jetty at 10am returning at approximately 2.30pm. Daily coach transfers are available from Brisbane CBD and the Sunshine Coast.

The Whales are coming to Brisbane Season 2010! is a post from: Moreton Bay Whale Watching Reports