whales just wanna have fun!
If you had to choose a magic marine moment, it would be hard to beat the spectacular breach of a Humpback whale. They just love to leap, roll in mid air, and land on their back. Why do they do it? Perhaps just cos they can! Baykeeper is truly envious of Ron, Tania, Duke and Sofia, who photographed this fantastic sight off St Leonards in late June. [caption id="attachment_1472" align="aligncenter" width="502" caption="Humpback at play in the Bay (pic courtesy of Ron,Tania, Duke & Sofia)"][/caption] Winter is whale watching time in Victoria as Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) and Humpbacks (Megaptera novaeanglidae) ...
North Pacific Seastar population decline?
The beautiful, but destructive North Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) first arrived in Port Phillip Bay in the 1990s in ship ballast water. As they eat practically anything live or dead that they can climb onto, they thrived in the local conditions where they have few natural predators. In less than 10 years they became the most common animal in the Bay. The fact that that the females are estimated to produce over 20 million eggs could have something to do with it! Naturally, there are concerns that they could out-compete native sea star species. [caption id="attachment_1308" ...
‘average tide’ hides local reality
The fact that the tidal range at 'the Entrance' is around twice that at Port Melbourne highlights the fact that there are very different tidal zones in the Bay. Incoming tides are impeded by the Bay's narrow Entrance, and then by 'the Sands', the vast triangular area of shallow sand flats which are a barrier to waters moving to or from the north of the Bay. Wind strength and direction, and barometric pressure also affect sea level in localised areas. Many people raised concerns that deepening the shipping channel at the Entrance (completed in September 2008) would open up ...
Close encounter of the turtle kind
Whale sightings from Carrum to Blairgowrie have caused quite a buzz in recent weeks, but then Judy Muir (of Polperro Dolphin Swims) reported swimming with a Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) during her regular dip off Blairgowrie. That had to take the prize! [caption id="attachment_1343" align="aligncenter" width="518" caption="Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle) Photo taken by User:Strobilomyces at Océanopolis, Brest, France on 17th April 2006"][/caption] Although Loggerheads ('boofheads' to their mates) are found in the Atlantic , Pacific and Indian Oceans as well as the Mediterranean. But few people have the privilege of meeting one on their occasional visit to Port Philliip ...
Wild Things
whales just wanna have fun!
If you had to choose a magic marine moment, it would be hard to beat the spectacular...
North Pacific Seastar population decline?
The beautiful, but destructive North Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) first...
Close encounter of the turtle kind
Whale sightings from Carrum to Blairgowrie have caused quite a buzz in recent weeks,...
Read more posts from Wild Things
Education
Blue-ringed Octopus – seashell surprise
Investigating our amazing coastal plants and animals is a cool way to spend summer....
Find a shore thing on a beach near you
Most Australians remember fun days at the beach: beating the heat, building sand...
Revised method to age Anchovy
The Baywide Anchovy Study Milestone Report #1 (2008) caused great concern when it...
Read more posts from Education
Advocacy
‘average tide’ hides local reality
The fact that the tidal range at ‘the Entrance’ is around twice that at Port Melbourne highlights the fact that there are very different tidal zones in the Bay. Incoming tides are impeded by the Bay’s narrow Entrance, and then by ‘the Sands’, the vast triangular area of shallow sand flats which are a barrier to waters moving... [Read more of this review]
Portsea paradise lost
The disappearance of thousands of tonnes of Portsea Beach sand since the dredging at Port Phillip Heads has left locals looking for answers. Was it the wind, higher tides, or the swell that took the beach? The mystery has deepened with the recent dumping of hundreds of tonnes of rock near both sides of the pier, especially as there’s no project... [Read more of this review]
Read more posts from Advocacy
