[The Conversation]

Thar She Blows! An Expert’s Guide To Whale Watching 101​

There’s no doubt about it, seeing a whale rise from the depths of the ocean is something special. Whether it’s the first time you’ve seen a whale or you’ve seen many like I have, it’s the thrill of hearing and sometimes smelling whale breath that gets you back for more! It’s time to dust off your binoculars because we’re about to dive into learning to whale watch.

When to see whales​

Whale watching is a great outdoors activity we can all enjoy from May to November each year in Australia. Thousands of humpback whales migrate from their feeding waters of Antarctica to the warm northern breeding waters off the Kimberley, Western Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

These giants traverse the sea and play important ecological roles in our marine environment.

What to look for​

Ironically, trying to spot an animal the size of a bus is not always easy.

One of the first things to look for is that puffy tell-tail sign of a whale, its blow. Whales are mammals like you and I, which means they breathe air. Their nose is located on top of their head like an in-built snorkel.

A humpback whale takes a breath in the cool waters of Antarctica. Photo: Vanessa Pirotta, Author provided​

This allows whales to breathe on the go and without having to raise their heads out of the water. As they breathe out you can see a spout or puffy blow as a combination of water and air is blasted upwards as they exhale. This air comes directly from their lungs and is also known as whale snot.

Whale blow can stick around for longer when weather conditions are ideal such as times with good visibility and low wind. This is a great advantage for spotting a whale.

If you’re lucky, you may also be able to spot a whale breaching, which is when they jump out of the water. Humpback whales are most famous for this. We don’t exactly know why whales do this but it most likely serves as a form of communication with other whales.

A humpback whale breaches off Manly, Sydney, Australia. Photo: Vanessa Pirotta, Author provided​

You may also be able to see other behaviours such as pec (arm) and tail slapping, resting at the surface and spy hopping – where a whale brings its mouth and eyes out of the water to look around.

After a dive, whales sometimes leave a whale footprint, which is a circular disruption at the surface caused by the whale’s tail. This is where the whale last surfaced. The whale will now likely be further ahead of this location.

Boat or land-based whale watching, what’s better?​

It depends. Some of the best whale watching I’ve ever had has been from land. High land-based viewing platforms such as those in national parks enable you to see further and wider out to sea. This allows you to document a lot more whale action but from a distance.

But if you’re after the salt in your face and the thrill of being on the water, then whale watching with a responsible ecotourism company is your best option. Australia has rules and regulations in place to keep both whales and humans safe from each other. This means humans must keep their distance from whales when on the water.

In some cases, whales may choose to approach your vessel and swim around at close range. This is known as a whale mugging and there is nothing you can do but turn off the boat engines and enjoy the show.

Tools people can use to whale watch​

Whale watching is an outdoors activity so prepare for any type of weather. I always suggest a weatherproof jacket to keep warm and protected from the wind and rain. I also recommend sunglasses, sun screen, a hat and comfy shoes.

If you’re a keen wildlife photographer like me, then pack your camera. Alternatively, a phone can be used to video or take photos.

Finally, don’t forget your binoculars. These can be great for seeing whales a little closer, but don’t worry if you don’t own a pair. I personally prefer spotting whales first with the naked eye.

Tips and tricks for success​

It’s important to know whales don’t sit at the surface breathing all the time. Depending on what they are doing, they will likely spend time swimming underwater. This can range from a few minutes to up to 20 minutes for humpback whales. So be patient.

Scanning the horizon from left to right is a great tip when starting, especially from land. Start from one side and move along the horizon slowly. This will increase your chances of picking up anything between you and the horizon.

Spotted: a sunfish swims near the surface off Sydney, Australia. Photo: Vanessa Pirotta​

If on a boat, be aware that you’re likely moving, so try to use landmarks or other boats as potential navigational markers. Keep an eye out for anything at the surface that moves or pops up suddenly. I’ve seen some amazing things while waiting for whales, such as jumping sharks and sunfish.

Dive in​

Whale watching is a great annual outdoor activity anyone can do. Whether you’re watching from land or sea, keep an eye out because you never know when you might spot your next or very first whale.

This article was first published on The Conversation, and was written by Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University

 

[relljube]

I have had the pleasure of whale watching by boat on an annual basis for over ten years - it is my communion with God and nature. To say they are majestic is an understatement, they are breathtakingly beautiful and graceful and very intelligent animals. To have one sidle up to the boat and look at you eye to eye is truly miraculous. I cannot wait for this year's migration up the east coast to commence.

 

[Mr Chips]

Had the pleasure some years ago of watching magnificent Humpbacks off the coast of Honolulu from the deck of a fairly sizeable catamaran. They were traveling across the Pacific via the Hawaiian Islands and it was spectacular. They breached the water, waved their flippers, and showed us their baby whales without seemingly any fear. It was the most incredible experience that will always remain with me.

 

[Mina vriesekolk]

I used to live close to Hervey Bay , the world capital of whale watching and we went a few times on a boat and saw many, many whales showing off in the water . You never get bored to see these massive creatures frolicking in the water.

 

[SGH]

I have just returned from the Antarctic where we got to see them feeding no breeching just peaceful motion in and out of the water. The kayakers who were out at the same time that we were in the zodiacs were treated to them coming up gently between the kayaks and it was just magical for those of us watching.

 

[Ellen_53]

Southern right whales are frequent visitors along the coast of south-west Victoria between about June and September. There's a whale nursery off Logans Beach, Warrnambool, and the whales are often seen from the clifftops and breakwaters in Portland - even in the harbour. From vantage points such as Cape Nelson lighthouse you can also often see humpbacks and the occasional blue whale.