HUMPBACK WHALE LOGGING BEHAVIOUR

The first humpback whales we are likely to see close to the islands are pregnant females or females with newborns.

Humpback mothers with calves spend as much of their time logging as possible.

Logging is a form of rest where humpback whales float motionless near the water's surface, much like a log.

They remain near the surface with their blowholes exposed to the air, allowing them to breathe.

Whales must remain conscious while sleeping to breathe. During this resting state, humpback whales shut down only one hemisphere of their brain at a time while the other remains active.

Mothers also spend time logging to conserve energy, because they are relying on their fat reserves to produce 600 litres of milk per day for her calf; until she returns to her feeding grounds in the Antarctic.

It’s important to be on the lookout for whales during the next couple of months, because logging whales can be extremely hard to see.

Last season there was an injured whale reported off Hamilton Island’s Qualia Resort.

It was a good news story.  After watching her behaviour for a period of time I was pleased to report she was logging with her calf near her nose.

The first photo is logging behaviour.  In the second photo she was no longer logging and has more of a hump.

Please report sick, injured or dead marine life on 1300 130 372

To find out more about special whale events and information on whales in the Whitsundays, join the WHALES OF THE WHITSUNDAYS Facebook page; or go to https://www.whitsundaymarine.org/projects

Contributed by Kellie Leonard, Master Reef Guide/Whales of the Whitsundays

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