Do whales eat while migrating?

Adult humpback whales eat little to nothing during their time in the warmer waters of the north – their nursery lagoons. And they don’t find much food while migrating either. It was generally accepted that they did not feed at all whilst on migration, but some operators have reported what they believe could be feeding. It may well be that whales can’t resist a little snack along the way, and who can blame them! Their migration takes around six months and they travel over 10,000 kilometres. And the females give birth to calves of around 1,500kg! We would be hungry too.

Where do they get their energy from?

A humpback whale’s blubber provides the energy it needs when food is scarce. A thirty ton whale can burn up to eight tons of blubber during the months of migration! Without this energy source, whales would not be able to fast for their migration journeys like they do. They would be extremely hangry, to say the least!

How much to they eat when they return to Antarctica?

Unsurprisingly, humpback whales are large eaters when they get back to Antarctic water. The colder waters are rich with all their favourite foods, including small fish, krill and plankton. A humpback whale is able to feast on up to 1,360kg of food per day! They are a social species when it comes to feeding, often using a unique technique called “bubble netting.” This is a cooperative technique in which groups of humpbacks swim in circles and use air bubbles to herd fish. It is truly remarkable!

1. Know your whales

Learning about common whale behaviour can be a tremendous help when it comes to both spotting and identifying whales on our tours. Look out for the telltale ‘blow.’ That is, the water sprayed into the air as the whale exhales at the surface. This is the easiest way to spot a whale. Sometimes, you can even identify the whale species by its blow. For example, southern right whales blow in a noticeable V shape, while sperm whales spray forward and to the left. Another way to spot them: if you see a big splash, then you probably just missed a breach! Luckily for us, whales, and in particular humpback whales, are famed for their magnificent acrobatic displays.

2. Mind the weather

If you have the choice, head out on a clear and calm day. Whale blows and splashes are best spotted in calm seas with little to no white caps. On a day where there’s no white caps, almost any disturbance that’s not a boat is going to be a whale. But if you have a day booked and locked in, never fear! Our amazing crew will help you spot whales and ensure you have a day like no other.

3. Pack good gear

Make sure you wear warm clothes and a jacket, comfortable shoes and bring your camera. Bonus points if you pack some binoculars! You’re going to spot more whales without the binoculars, but once you do spot them, the binoculars will help you get a closer look. Most importantly, pack some patience. As we are spotting animals in the wild, patience is key! But don’t worry, the anticipation is what makes whale watching so incredible.

4. Know that you have chosen a responsible tour provider!

By choosing Whales in Paradise as your whale watching tour operator, you are contributing to the protection of humpback whales! We are a responsible company and we take conservation, environmentalism and sustainability very seriously. The most helpful whale spotting tip is to protect them! This will ensure our whale populations continue to grow and flourish. More whales means more opportunities to watch them in awe!

1. Rug up!

No matter the season, it is important to wear a windproof and waterproof jacket when you join us for whale watching. While the ocean breeze is invigorating, it can also be a bit chilly. In winter, it may be a good idea to wear a beanie, scarf and gloves too. Remember, you can always take them off, but you cannot wear what you don’t bring! Trust us – you’ll thank us later.

2. Protect your eyes

Sunglasses are a must when you join us on the water. That ocean glare can be intense on both sunny and overcast days. Ensure they have UV protection, and bonus points if they are polarised! Polarised sunnies will really help you spot those whales and calves that are sometimes a few hundred metres from the boat.

3. Don’t get sunburnt

Don’t be fooled by the chilly wind. You are still susceptible to sunburn on our tours. Make sure you slip, slop, slap with some SPF 30 or 50+, and wear a hat. But be careful – we have had hats fly overboard. Ensure yours has a drawstring, or hold on tight! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

4. Wear flat, comfortable shoes

Sorry fashionistas. Sensible shoes are a must on our whale watching tours. Your best bet is a flat pair of rubber-soled sneakers. We wouldn’t want you to slip over and hurt yourself! Feel free to spice up your outfit with other accessories.

5. Sea sickness tablets

Hopefully you won’t need these, but you know the saying, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A short trip to the pharmacy before you jump on board can save a lot of heartache (or should I say belly ache) later on. Most sea sickness tablets can be purchased over the counter, but make sure you read the packet as they can make some people feel a little drowsy.

6. Don’t forget your camera (or smartphone)

Last but certainly not least, your trusty camera! Ensure your camera, or other photo-taking device, is fully charged (or bring some spare batteries). Better yet, revamp your camera with a wrist or neck strap. This will help prevent a tragic camera-gone-overboard situation. It also means you will have your hands free to hold onto the rails. Safety first, remember!

The Coral Sea off the Gold Coast is habitat for a number of marine creatures that live here year round. One of those species is the local resident population of common dolphins. These dolphins do not migrate and spend their days resting, socializing and hunting in the bay. Often they can be found tucked in close to the beaches in the morning where they will be gathered together resting in shallow waters after a busy night of hunting and feeding. Dolphins rest in groups for safety, and will shut down one hemisphere of their brain, but still have one eye open so that they are alert to lurking predators like coastal sharks. Common dolphins are brightly coloured with a cream coloured cape and a gray beak and back. Their small size and fusiform body shape makes them very speedy. They will approach a boat to ride the bow wake and you will be delighted with a close up look at them!

Another year round resident is our local groups of bottlenose dolphins. They are larger and heftier then common dolphins and can range from a pale gray to a dark gray colouration. Like all dolphins they hunt in groups and use their teeth not to chew but rather to grasp their prey. All dolphins need to flip their fish around so that it is facing head first into their mouths! This is important as when they swallow the whole fish the very sharp and pointy scales on the fishes backs do not tear up and scratch their throats. We sometimes see bottlenose dolphins leaping high out of the water as they chase prey. We think the sounds of the dolphins big body splashing back into the water alerts other members of the pod that the hunt is on! It’s really exciting to see dolphins moving with speed after a school of fish! Sometimes we may encounter a very special group of dolphins – called a nursery pod – all the members of the group are mother dolphins and their small babies! The pregnant females group together and live separated from the males and when the babies are born they all stay together and raise their newborns without any help form the males. Some mums will go off to hunt while other females stay and baby sit all the young calves! The little ones are pretty cute – so keep a sharp lookout when they come to visit the boat!

The waters off the Gold Coast are also home to different types of sea turtles. We see them gliding through the water, or poking their snout out of the water to take a breath. Sea turtles have been on the planet for a very long time – longer than even crocodiles and alligators – and may have been present when the dinosaurs where roaming the land! If everything goes well for sea turtles they can live a very long life span – in some cased up to 100 years old! That is pretty amazing, considering they have to race from their nests on a sandy beach when they first hatch and face groups of seabirds trying to gobble them up! Sea turtles have the ability to sleep on the sea floor for up to five hours in one go – they have to really slow down their heartrate to do this. Sea turtles will eventually come to the surface to breathe and rest – that is when we get the chance to visit with them. Fun Fact: Sea turtles have about 50 bones in their bodies, including their very hard shell, which is actually a part of its skeleton.

An early season occasional visitor is the southern Minke whale. They are sighted usually in May or in June and last season each time we saw them there was a small calf with the pod! Minke whales can be shy compared to humpbacks and usually do now show off, or breach about. They will pop up suddenly and then glide through the water and if you spot one – look out for the pointed dorsal fin on their back. Sightings are usually brief – but it’s still exciting to see these whales as they pass though the bay on their migration. Be sure to give them a wave! These minke whales were recently hunted in the Southern Ocean but as of 2019, they are no longer being targeted. We sure hope they will recover their numbers now, so we can see even more mums and bubs into the future. Fun Fact: Minke whales can put on a burst of speed (especially when hunting) and they can swim at 40 kilometres an hour – that is faster than many boats!

Another occasional visitor is the southern right whale! They are making a strong comeback right now and they birth their calves near the Great Australian Bight. Perhaps the cows or mums are leading their young calves on a big swim about to get their tail flukes really strong. It seems strange to find them this far north up to East coast of Australia, but every year in recent times we will see mums and calves in the Gold Coast Bay. Southern rights have very short pectoral flippers and white horny growths on their heads called callosities. Fun fact: Each whale has a unique callosity pattern on their heads! This is how cetacean researchers can identify each whale!