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Sunday
21st October 2007 (11:00AM) - The last report for 2007
- This years whale watching season started with high expectations,
as the two previous years had seen whales in record numbers
in the bay and also record numbers of tourists coming to the
city of Warrnambool. Even the Dept of Sustainability and Environment
( DSE) were playing catch up by instigated a plan to roster
volunteers at Logan beach during the whale season ( local
whale enthusiast Peter Read had been doing this on his own
volition for the last two years) and local accommodation operators
planned an extensive advertising campaign for the whale season.
The sign that things were not going to plan, were apparent
from about the third week in June, by this stage there had
not been any sightings of Southern Right whales even though
there were frequent sightings of migrating Humpback whales
and also the lack of sightings from Ceduna and Victor Harbour
in South Australia were also disturbing.
During the next 8 weeks there were 3 or 4 brief visits, where
Southern Right whales swam into the bay at Logans beach and
left again within a matter of hours, and by the end of August
everyone realised that the whales season was over
There
have been a number of theories of why the whales didn't come
to Warrnambool this year including a popular belief that seismic
testing that was being conducted around Port Campbell may
have scared the whales off, but it doesn't explain why we
saw considerable numbers of migrating Humpback whales during
the same period. The answer probably lies in the fact that
this year whale numbers were down in all of the usual whale
watching locations - in fact the head of the Bight sanctuary
at Ceduna only had about 50 whales this year ( they normally
get over 150) and Victor Harbour where numbers are usually
about 3 adults and 3 calves the numbers this year they only
had 1 adult and 1 calf in the area consistently
We
are hoping that this years whale season was an anomaly and
that things return to a normal situation next year, and we
look forward to covering next years whale watching season
Photos
below were taken on Sunday 21st October 2007 at 11:00 PM
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The last photos for 2007 Quite a bit of activity at Logans beach
today with a local surfing competition in progress |
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blue skies, a sunny 26 degrees and consistent 1 metre waves
at Logan's today |
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South West Victoria's link
with Southern Right Whales ( Including Logan's beach)
Firstly a few facts - each year between May and June, Southern
Right Whales return to the southern coast of Australia ( also
New Zealand, South Africa and South America) to give birth,
raise their young and commence the breeding cycle again - of
the many thousands of Southern Right Whales on the planet, some
indeterminate number ( typically about a dozen) arrive in the
south west of Victoria.
What seems to happen when the pod arrives off the coast is that
the pregnant females isolate themselves from the pod and search
out a quiet location close to the shore to give birth and apparently
each female has her own favourite location. So what in effect
happens is that Southern Right whales will give birth in many
different locations along the South West coast ( Apollo Bay
to Portland) rather than just one location ( as some tourist
operators would like us to believe).
What sets Logan's beach apart is that there are a number of
females who consistently come back to this bay each time they
calve and that the vantage point at Logan's gives such a good
view from the shoreline.
South West Victoria's link with Blue Whales ( Portland
- Cape Nelson)
Each year between November and April, along the South West Coast
of Victoria (and South Australia) an oceanographic phenomenon
called ocean upwelling occurs. A combination of winds and currents
cause cold, nutrient-rich bottom water to be forced to the surface
of the ocean. When the nutrients reach the sunlit surface zone,
there is an explosion of minute plant life which includes 'phytoplankton',
the basis of the marine food chain, and also the primary food
of the local species of krill. The vast numbers of krill form
part of an ocean banquet which attracts large numbers of blue
whales to this feeding ground off Victoria's coast. The event
is called "The Bonney Upwelling" and is one of a handful
of sites globally where Blue whales can be seen surface-feeding.
Although the feeding site extends up to 30 - 50Kms off shore,
they are often sighted closer to shore and between December
and May blue whales are often visible from Cape Nelson, Cape
Bridgewater and the Blowholes, all near Portland. The whales
are often sighted within 10km of land, and sometimes within
only a few hundred metres. Their tall straight blows and silvery
backs can be seen from a great distance, and it likely that
most whales seen blowing out at sea during this period are blue
whales. This is one of the few places in the world where blue
whales can be viewed from land, while they hunt for and feed
on the abundant swarms of krill which are nourished by the Bonney
Upwelling.
Tips For Whale Watching in and around Warrnambool
* Check with the Warrnambool Visitor Centre for daily sightings
* Take a good pair of binoculars or telescope.
* Be prepared for long periods of waiting
Whale facts The Southern Right Whales is one of the largest
mammals on earth being only marginally smaller than the Blue
and Humpback whales. Like humans, they are warm blooded, give
birth to live, fully developed young, breathe air, and feed
their young on their milk. The calf is approximately 5 to 6
metres at birth and can double in weight over the first week
An adult whale averages 15 - 18 metres
in length and 50 - 90 tonnes in weight
The Southern Right Whales normally swim between 3 to 9 kilometres
per hour.
They feed in the fertile waters of the Antarctic during summer
months and leave in late March and make their way north to give
birth raise their young and then in September ( or October)
return to the Antarctic.
The Southern Right Whale usually breeds every 3 years. The pregnancy
is 11 months. The Southern Right Whales received their name
from early whalers. This particular whale swims slowly, in herds,
and close to the shore. Once harpooned, they would float on
the surface. These whales produced a large amount of oil and
whalebone, making it an excellent catch, and the 'right' whale
to hunt. Today, the Southern Right Whale is protected in Australian
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MOTEL
WARRNAMBOOL
2007 Whale Special
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2 nights, (3 days) for 2 people in a deluxe unit, cooked
breakfast both mornings - whale cruise or road tour plus $40
restaurant voucher $255 total Click
the photo for more information and to book direct
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CITY
HEART MOTEL
Now with On-line
Booking
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2007 Whale season special - 2 nights
accommodation, with a complimentary breakfast each morning
and a 2 course dinner one evening for $110.00 per person
twin share Click the photo
for more information and to book on line
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ALL
STAR MOTOR INN
Whale
Watching Special
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$85 per night per couple including
a Cooked Breakfast and Free Dessert with any Dinner to Unit
ordered during your stay. Must be booked on line Click
the photo for more information and prices
Special On-Line prices available
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STONECUTTERS
INN
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Pay for two and stay for three offer, Applies to either the
Galley of Loft apartments. Stonecutters Inn is just 3 blocks
from the centre of the city. Click
the photo for more information and prices
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TURN
IN MOTEL
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The closest motel to Logan's beach, and the whale viewing
platform - stay two nights for just $60,per night per
couple, or stay 3 nights for just $50 per night Click
the photo for more information and prices
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HONEYSUCKLE
COTTAGE
Now with On-line
Booking
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Sleeps up to eight people - close to the centre of the city.
Stay 3 nights midweek for just $295 all inclusive (
normally $450 ) Click the photo for
more information and prices
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Link to the latest sightings in South Australia
and Western Australia
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