For those looking for the whales I spoted 1 yesterday 14/6/07.

1st July 2007 :  Havn't spot any whales since the 14/6-07.

Information

Warrnambool is known as “Victoria's Southern Right Nursery”

Almost every year between June and September, female Southern Right whales return to the water of Warrnambool's Logan's Beach to calve. The whales ofter swim within a hundred metres of the shore and can be viewed from a specially constructed whale viewing platform in the sand dunes or from the beach.

Why do the whales come to Warrnambool?

The magnificent South Right whales have been visiting Warrnambool for hundreds of years. Once, they were hunted almost to th point of extinction, but since whaling was outlawed in 1935, their numbers have been growing. In summer, Southern Right whales live in sub-Antarctic. In winter, they migrate to warmer waters around the southern areas of Australia. The female migrate to the “nursery” areas close to the shore to bear their calves, while the males, yearlings and young adults remain further out to sea. The female generally stay in the nursery for weeks. Allowing the calves to feed and gather strength for their journey back to the sub-Antarctic waters.

What is a whale?

Whales belong to a group of animals called cetaceans, which include dolphins and porpoises. The whale in the earth's largest mammal. It breaths air and feeds its young on milk.

The Southern Right Whale?

The Southern Right Whale can be recognised by its smooth black back and lack of dorsel fin. On the head of each Southern Right Whale are a number of crusty outgrowths called callosities. The callosities pattern varies from whale to whale. Irregular white patches sometime found on the whale's belly, distinguish these animals from other species.

What dose their name mean?

The early whalers regarded the whale as the “right” whale to hunt. They swim sloly and close to the shore, floated once harpooned, and yielded large quantities of oil and whalebone. The word “Southern” relates to southern waters.

The birth of a whale?

Whales breed once every two or three years. Pregnancy lasts between 9 and 10 months and the calf is suckled from milk gland beneath the mother's body. The calf is about 5 to 6 metres long at birth, grow quickly, and may double its weight in the first week.

Are whales protected?

The whales are protected in Australian waters by Federal a State laws. Fine of up to $100,000 may be imposed for harassment.

How big do these whales grow?

The average length of the adult Southern Right Whale is 15 metres, the average weight is 50 tonnes, with maximum length of 18 metres and a weight of 96 tonnes.

How do they communicate?

Whales are social animals and display degrees of organisation, behaviour and intelligence. To communicate whales use sound. Breaching (leaping out of the water) and tail lobbing (hitting the tail on the water) are also ways of communicating and playing.