The first sighting of a southern right whale and its calf off the NSW coast has signalled the start of the migration season, with the Central Coast ready to catch a glimpse of the marine mammals as they venture south to cooler waters.
The mother and its newborn calf were spotted off the coast of Cronulla on July 23.
Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre marine scientist, Jon Roast, said with the start of August around the corner, sighting whales was more likely.
“Whale migration includes two steps, travelling up to warmer waters for calving season earlier in the year and then travelling south to colder waters as temperatures start to warm in early August, taking advantage of the surge in krill populations,” he said.
“Now that we are entering August and September, we are likely to see more whales travelling back down the coast with offspring in tow, making this the perfect time to see whales.”
Roast said the best weather to catch a glimpse of whale migration were bright and calm conditions.
“The higher the lookout points, the further out you will be able to see; some good locations include the Skillion, Norah Head, Crackneck Lookout and the Captain Cook Lookout at Copacabana,” he said.
“While it’s hard to say whether this sighting is the official start of the migration season, we on the coast should expect to see more and more whales migrating down as they make their way to cooler food-rich waters.”
The sighting of the rare southern right whale mother and its newborn calf is also adding to the conservation of their species as part of a project helping marine mammal experts identify individual whales.
National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS Marine Team Project Officer, Andrew Marshall, said the Right Whale ID Program is using highly trained volunteer drone operators to photograph the unique white head-markings on each southern right whale.
“We are coordinating the collection of highly prized images of these rarely seen marine mammals so we can identify them individually,” Marshall said.
“Unlike humpback whales built for speed, southern right whales prefer to hang around our sheltered beaches and bays a little longer at this time of year.
“But it is a rare treat to see one of these endangered animals, with fewer than 300 southern right whales migrating up the southeast coast each winter.”
The program will help better estimate population size and identify the species’ preferred areas to rest, give birth and raise calves.
“The more we understand about these animals, the more effective we can be in our conservation actions,” Marshall said.
“If people see a southern right whale, please call 13000PARKS or the ORRCA Hotline 02 9415 3333 and relay details of the sighting so we can trigger a Right Whale ID response.”
Hayley McMahon