Quicksilver Group News
June 29th, 2011The Humpback Whales have Arrived
Silversonic and Quicksilver Cruise passengers were delighted to spot some of the first humpbacks of the season today. The 2 humpbacks, which were believed to be a large male traveling with a smaller female were spotted about 200 metres from the vessel which was the third sighting by Quicksilver this year
The whales were playing between Tongue Reef and Low Isles traveling north. Silversonic skipper Shane Dowd said “ They were blowing quite a bit and did an amazing breach just before we left. It is always exciting to see the humpbacks arrive and a positive for all our passengers and crew. Our guests are just in awe, everyone was on the decks and just delighted to see such an amazing sight”.
With the onset of autumn, humpback whales begin their long trek up the east coast of Australia. They are easily identified by their extremely long pectoral fins and scalloped flukes. Humpbacks are referred to as Baleen whales, as they filter sea water through large fibrous plates in their mouths to feed on the krill. They rarely travel any further north than Cape Tribulation, so we are at the end of their long migration, and they tend to gather here in large numbers.
The reason they travel north is to get to warmer waters to breed and calve. Warm tropical waters have little food for the whales to feast upon, so the whales rely on their fat reserves they have accrued by feeding on krill in Antarctic waters. As they travel up the coast, the whales begin to form small groups or mating pairs.
To actually see one underway is simply the most unbelievable experience you’ll ever have, says Russell Hore, manager of the company’s Reef Biosearch division.
The whales are regularly sighted at the reef during July to September.
A Humpback whale on the Great Barrier Reef
