Whaley interesting info about whales!

Each year, an estimated 35,000 whales make their annual migration along the Western Australian coast. And lucky for us, from June to early December, the Margaret River region is one of the best places to whale watch in Australia!

Humpback, Southern Right, Minke and Blue Whales all make the journey. Their first port of call is Flinders Bay in Augusta, between June and August. During this time, you’ll see Southern Right and Humpback whales interact.

Southern Right whales will often calve in the shallows of Flinders Bay, whereas Humpback whales will head up north towards the tropical waters of the Kimberley to have their calves. They then return to Geographe Bay where they rest and nurse their young from September to early December. Humpbacks in Western Australia typically migrate an astonishing 13,000km each year.

Interested in brushing up on your whale-knowledge? We were lucky enough to catch up with marine biologist Jade Cantrall from Naturaliste Charters and we’ve picked out some of our favourite ‘whaley’ interesting facts about whales!

Humpback whales

• Western Australia has the highest population of humpbacks in the southern hemisphere.
• Humpbacks eat krill and zooplankton, feeding on over 1 tonne of krill per day during migration.
• Humpbacks are conscious breathers, and shut off half their brain for around 30 minutes and stay motionless near the surface so they can register predators and dangers, as well as consciously breathing.
• The longest recorded journey taken was by an individual migrating from the Antarctic Peninsula to American Samoa and back – clocking up a 18 840 km round trip
• Females calve once every 2-3 years. A placenta found in Hawaii was over 3m long!
• Humbacks can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes at a time, useful for feeding, sleeping and reproducing.
• Male humpbacks range between 11-15 metres in length, with females between 12-16 metres. Humpbacks weigh between 25-35 tonnes.
• They live between 50-75 years with the oldest recorded at 95 years.

Southern Right whales

• Western Australia has the highest population of SRW in the southern hemisphere, with approximately 3,200 visiting our coastline.
• Southern Right whales were called a ‘right whale’ as it was the right whale to catch (back in the days of whaling) because of its meat and high oil content.
• They can grow up to 18 metres in length and weigh up to 80 tonnes.
• They are the only large whale without a dorsal fin.
• Southern right whales have their own version of unique fingerprints – their callosity patterns on their heads can be used to identify them.

Minke whales

• Minke whales are a type of rorqual whale and are the smallest and most abundant of the baleen whales.
• There are an estimated 800,000 worldwide.
• Minke whales are solitary mammals that can generally be found in colder climates over warmer ones.
• The gestation period for minke whales is relatively short at just 10 months.
• They grow to approximately 8-9 metres long and weigh between 5.4-6.8 tonnes (females are larger than males).

Blue whales

• There are different subspecies of blue whales, called Antarctic (or “true”) blue whale and Pygmy blue whale. The West Australian coastline is believed to encounter both.
• Blue whale faeces is pink due to their diet primarily of krill.
• Blue whales can grow up to 30 metres in length and eat up to 3,600 kilograms of krill a day.
• Blue whales hold the record for being the loudest animal as their heartbeat can be heard from up to 3 kilometres away.
• A blue whale calf will be born at 8 metres long and already weigh up to 5 tonnes.

Whale watching in Margaret River is an unforgettable experience, with the region offering several prime spots to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures.

For an up-close encounter, hop on a charter with Naturaliste Charters. Departing daily between August and November, experience the rare beauty of these mammals as they rest and folic in the shallows of Geographe Bay.

Prefer to keep your feet on flat ground? Some of our favourite land-based whale watching lookout spots include Busselton Jetty, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Point Piquet, Canal Rocks and Bunker Bay.