Humpback Whales in Port Phillip Bay
October 8, 2009 by BayKeeper
Filed under Education, Featured, Wild Things
Not much is known about why Humpback Whales occasionally visit Port Phillip Bay. But whenever they do, it’s an opportunity to learn more about them. Sue Mason and David Donnelly of the Dolphin Research Institute tracked and photographed these two magnificent Megaptera novaeanglidae as they cruised between Mud Islands and Sorrento on September 21.
Humpbacks tour Port Phillip (pic courtesy of Dolphin Research Institute)
DRI photographs confirmed that these were the same two seen in Corio Bay and therefore that they’d spent at least ten days checking out Port Phillip Bay.
Dolphin or whale sightings can be reported to the Dolphin Research Institute on 1300 130 949.
We spotted a whale approx 100m off Bon Beach at 11.15am,Sunday 13th June 2010 followed it with telescope for approx 5-10 minutes, until it dived.
Thanks for this exciting report Gary. I’ve had 4 separate reports of whales around the Carrum, Chelsea, Seaford area since late last week. So they seem happy to stick around! One report was of a whale accompanied by dolphins. Would love to see a photo or two if anyone is lucky enough to get one.
Hi guys, I am formally recording whale sightings in Victorian waters and I’d be very keen to hear of any sightings you have or hear about. I can be contacted on 0401011022.
Thanks,
David
Thanks for getting in touch David. It’s great that you’re continuing such good work. Now I have your number I’ll pass on any news as soon as I receive it.
hi we spoted a whale at about 2 pm of st leonards on monday the 28 june and were lucky enough to have taken a great photo
Thanks for sharing your good news. It’s great to know you can still have a whale of a time in the Bay! if you’re happy to email it, I’d love to see your photo, as would our good mates the Dolphin Research Institute.
Hey, watched two i can only assume humpback whales this afternoon down near sorrento backbeach.. they were just hanging arouns and playing, the sound of them slapping their tails, fins on the water is just amazing.. there were there for a few hours. The first time ive seen whales in real life. truely took my breath away!
Just found this about a Southern Right whale swimming into the Derwent River, Hobart:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/07/15/2955134.htm?site=hobart
Are whales seeking sheltered waters for some reason, or are they just migrating to breed and feeling venturesome?
Thanks for letting me know Ronald and Tania. My web host tells me allowing attachments to the form email could compromise site security. The solution would be to ignore the website email form and send an email with the pic attached to baykeeper@ecocentre.com
Thanks for sharing the good news, and congratulations on you first ever sighting. May there be many more! Sounds like they put on quite a show for you!
Good questions Annie. The Southern Rights are especially known to come close to the coast. Perhaps they’re just more visible in shallower waters as they seek their favoured tucker (such as krill). Apparently their near shore ventures helped earn their “Right Whale” tag, they were easy for commercial whalers to find and floated when dead!
Hey Guys, I saw a whale (humpback I assume) about 1km West of Mornington Pier around 4pm this afternoon (17/08/2010) hung around the surface for around 10 minutes then presumably dived and I lost track – it was heading in the direction of Carrum at the time! Amazing to see them in the Bay!!
Thanks for the good news Trent. We’re so lucky to share the Bay with the big fellas! But I can’t help but wonder how polystyrene and plastic pieces floating in the water might effect these big filter feeders. Maybe it passes straight through them? Whatever the case, we really should put more effort into reducing litter escaping to the Bay.