Greetings little scientists!
How is everyone doing these Winter school holidays? I can’t believe that we are already halfway through the holidays! I hope you are all keeping busy with lots of fun activities (check out our last post for some DIY science projects), while staying safe at the same time.
Winter in Sydney is one of the best times to go whale watching. Every year between May and November, our coastlines become teeming with life with one of the greatest animal migrations in the world- the WHALE migration!
Image credit: Rowena Chong
Gentle giants such as the Humpback whales travel thousands of kilometres along the east coast of Australia, migrating from the Antarctic waters in the south, to the Coral Sea in the north to mate and breed. To spot a whale on its journey north, go to a high vantage point and look for the whale’s spout (aka snout!), or even better, a big splash after a whale has breached!
Some of the best places to spot whales around Sydney are Watsons Bay, the Bondi to Coogee coastal trail and the North Head Lookout at Manly. You can also go on a whale watching cruise and get up close and personal with these gentle giants! So, grab a pair a binoculars and head out to spot some whales these winter school holidays!
Do not forget to wow your friends with these cool facts about the biggest animals living in our oceans!
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the largest of them all?
The blue whale is the largest animal on planet Earth. They can grow up to 25 m long (about 3 school buses) and weigh up to 150,000 kg (that is about 24 elephants). Despite their large size, they eat some of the smallest creatures in the ocean- tiny shrimp like animals called krill. Of course, given their size, they eat of lot of krill. A single adult blue whale can eat up to 36,000 kg of krill a day.
Mammal or fish?
Whales are marine mammals- meaning that they are warm blooded- breath air through their lungs, have hair, and give birth to live young that drink milk from the mother!
So why do whales breach or jump?
Scientists still do not know the exact reasons why whales jump out of the water. Some suggest that it is a display of dominance between whales, while others believe it is a form of communication (for example to warn others of potential predators). Some scientists also think that breaching helps whales get rid of pesky parasites on their bodies.
Natural singers
Some whale species such as the Humpback and Minke whales are known to sing. Males often produce long, loud, and complex sounds commonly referred as whale songs. Many scientists believe that singing is a form of communication, especially to attract mates during the breeding season.
Until next time!
Rowena Chong AKA Professor Helix
