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Humpback whales make one of the longest migrations of all mammals, from their tropical breeding and birthing grounds to the Antarctic.
The warm tropical water is thought to reduce energetic costs associated with thermoregulation. Calves are born with no insulation and mothers can conserve their energy for producing milk for the calf. Which means calves can grow at a faster rate, being protected from hash environments and potential predators.
The phytoplankton and krill that whales feed on are more plentiful in the nutrient rich water of the Antarctic, so the whales migrate back there to feed. The warm water of the Whitsundays is nutrient poor.
How long they spend in the Antarctic, depends on the availability of food. Humpback whales spend more time in their feedings grounds following El Nino years, because the warmer water results in less krill. This impacts their energy reserves and readiness to migrate. Therefore, they will migrate later when there is less krill, because it takes them longer to put on body condition.
Krill provides all the nutrition they need to thrive. Thousands of kilograms are consumed each day during the peak of the Humpbacks feeding season. Humpback Whales only have a small oesophagus which is approximately the size of a grapefruit so the species of food they are able to target has to be very specific.
As they begin their migration from the Antarctic to the breeding and birthing grounds, the urge to feed is replaced with hormones for breeding and raising newborn calves.
Humpback whales will snack if there is an opportunity while migrating, but they mostly rely on their fat energy reserves once they leave the Antarctic, until they return after mating and birthing. Adult whales will not have another proper meal until their return back to Antarctica up to six months later.
To find out more about special whale events and information on whales in the Whitsundays, join the WHALES OF THE WHITSUNDAYS Facebook page go to www.whalesofthewhitsundays.com
Contributed by Kellie Leonard, Master Reef Guide/Whales of the Whitsundays
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