Tag Archives: humpback whale

Teaching Life Cycles of Humpback Whales

Humpback Life Cycles

 

Humpback whales are amongst the most fascinating marine mammals. Their annual migration up and down Queensland’s coast provides a fantastic learning opportunity for regional students. This blog offers educators valuable information about humpback whale life cycles, habitats, and threats, along with engaging discussion points and activities that can be brought to life with a trip to the coast to view the spectacle that is the annual humpback migration.

Ocean Life Education can support curriculum learning by hosting a humpback whale themed incursion or coastal excursion or event during the Queensland annual whale watching season (June-Oct), focusing on crucial aspects of the humpback whale life cycle and tailor-making the program to your needs.

Humpback migration map Australia

The Journey from Antarctica to Queensland

Each year, around 20,000 humpback whales embark on one of the longest migrations of any species. They cover around 10,000 kilometres from the Antarctica to the warm water of Queensland further north. This journey occurs between May and November, and is vital for the survival of their species, ensuring a safe environment for calving and nurturing young during the crucial first stage of their life cycle.

Great Barrier ReefWhy Do Humpback Whales Choose Queensland’s Warm Waters?

Northern Queensland and The Great Barrier Reef provide the perfect conditions (see Habitats Program) for humpback whale mothers and their calves. Unlike the food-rich waters of Antarctica, the tropical waters offer safety from predators like orcas and warmth for the less insulated calves – that haven’t yet developed sufficient blubber for cold temperatures.

Humpback whales also mate during this time in warmer waters.

Humpback whale life cycle resource

 

As mammals, humpback whales give birth to live young after an 11-month pregnancy.

When born, a calf is about four to five metres long and weighs nearly a tonne! The mother immediately helps it to the surface for its first breath and begins nursing it with nutrient-rich fatty milk, which helps it grow rapidly.

Early Development

The relationship between a mother and her calf is crucial for its survival. Mothers protect their calves and teach them essential skills, such as swimming – mimicking the mother, breathing, and using vocalisations to communicate.

A calf drinks a staggering 600 litres of milk daily, enabling it to gain strength and blubber quickly in order to survive the journey back south to the icy cold waters of Antarctica.

After several months in Queensland’s waters, mother and calf begin their long journey back to Antarctica. This phase is challenging for the young whale, as it must adapt to colder temperatures and start learning how to find food on its own. By the time they reach Antarctica, the calf is much stronger and more independent.

Reproduction & Maturity

Humpback whales reach reproductive age after around 5-10 years. Once mature, they then mate during the long journey north.

Humpback whales live until they are about 50 years old, when they complete the humpback whale life cycle.

Teaching Opportunities in the Classroom

Humpback Whale Life CyclesEducators can integrate humpback whale life cycles, humpback whale migration, and marine conservation into science, geography, and environmental studies. Here are some ideas for classroom activities:

  1. Mapping the Migration – Have students trace the migration route and identify key locations such as The Antarctic, Hervey Bay, and the Great Barrier Reef. Check out our Humpback Whale Migration Calender.
  1. Whale-Watching Research – Book an Ocean Life Education hosted excursion to explore local whale-watching opportunities along the Queensland coast and discuss conservation efforts as outlined in our Human Impact Incursions.
  1. Creative Writing – Ask students to write a diary entry from the perspective of a migrating whale calf. Our Ocean Literacy incursions can set you up perfectly for this.
  1. Marine Animal Comparisons – Compare humpback whales with other marine animals, focusing on reproduction and survival strategies. Ocean Life Education’s interactive marine displays offer the perfect opportunity to compare with a diverse range of marine species, including fish and turtles.
  1. Environmental Awareness – Discuss threats such as climate change, shark nets, plastic pollution, and ship strikes, and brainstorm ways to help protect marine life. Ocean Life Education’s Human Impact Program, The Earth Under Threat, develops an understanding of the issues and how students can take responsibility for conservation.

Observing Whales in the Wild

From June to October, teachers and students can witness the magnificent sight of humpback whales along the Queensland coast. Observing their playful behaviours, such as breaching and tail-slapping, provides an exciting way to connect learning with real-world experiences. Check out our whale watching guide to find out more.

Conclusion

Humpback whales are a vital part of Australia’s marine ecosystem, and their migration offers a compelling educational topic. By teaching students about these magnificent creatures, educators can foster a love for marine conservation and inspire future generations to protect our oceans. 

By integrating humpback whale life cycles, humpback whale migration, and Great Barrier Reef whale conservation into your lessons, you can provide students with valuable knowledge about marine life and the importance of protecting these incredible creatures.

Having the annual humpback migration passing by our coastline each year is an invaluable opportunity for children to appreciate these magnificent creatures in the wild. What a wonderful place East Coast Australia is to live! 

 

About Ocean Life EducationJaide Cambourne Ocean Life Education

Our oceans are full of the most incredible biodiversity, from plankton to enormous whales, all playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of our planet. Ocean Life Education’s aim is to  raise awareness about the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and the threats they face today.

We bring the ocean to life with our mobile incursions, engaging excusions, and events across South East Queensland! Visiting early learning centers, schools, and other settings, we deliver interactive, curriculum-based programs featuring live marine animals and live marine displays.

Our diverse team of live marine animals includes a baby shark, freshwater turtle, sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins.

Resources and Further Reading 

Whale Resources and online courses 

For more information about what we do, check out Ocean Life Education.

We hoped you enjoyed reading our blog: Teaching Humpback Whale Life Cycles

Here’s a link to our other news

OCEAN NEWS – Watching Queensland’s Humpback Migration

humpback whale migration map

This Month:

Celebrating Queensland’s Humpback Migration, FREE migration calendar, How whale poo fights climate change, Humpback fast facts, Teaching Human Impact, Out & About this month, Ocean Creature Feature. 

Woohoo!!!! The Humpbacks are Back

It’s that exciting time of year when humpback whales migrate up and down the Queensland coastline from the Antarctic to mate and give birth in warmer waters. The arrival of the whales is celebrated throughout East Coast Australia and we reckon it’s the greatest show on earth! Why not head down to the coast and join in the celebration?

Read our BLOG to find out when and where to see the Annual Humpback Migration on East Coast Australia and learn a whole lot more about it.

Click below for our downloadable FREE Humpback Migration Calendar (see foot of email)

the whale pump

 

How Whale Poo Fights Climate Change – The Whale Pump

As whales surface from deep dives to breathe and poo, they circulate huge amounts of nutrients from the sea floor. This process is called the “Whale Pump”.

The whale poo acts as an excellent fertiliser for ocean plants called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is at the bottom of the food chain and is a very important primary producer (food source) for the marine ecosystem. It also removes millions of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere and produces huge amounts of oxygen.

These tiny organisms (phytoplankton) absorb one-third of the carbon dioxide humans breathe out. They also produce half of the planet’s oxygen. So, as you can see, keeping this process working and our oceans healthy is crucial to our survival!

During long migrations, such as the one currently taking place off the East Coast of Australia, whales travel from nutrient-rich areas to nutrient-poor areas. This journey transports essential nutrients across the ocean in a process known as the “Great Whale Conveyor Belt”. So, whale migration has a big impact on the health of our oceans too.

Over 20,000 humpback whales are traveling up our coast right now! This is an amazing opportunity to teach students curriculum topics using an iconic, local theme. What better way to bring learning to life than to host an Ocean Life Education incursion at your school, then take a trip out to watch the amazing spectacle happening firsthand here in Queensland?

Programs & Free Resources

 

humpback fast facts

Humpbacks Course & Resources

https://mcusercontent.com/405f8237b6c23565cb7165b4c/images/aae32cbb-9566-1964-aa0c-5dde10041e69.png

Want to learn more about Australia’s iconic humpback whales?Check out our online course and teaching resources. – Both contain awesome videos, infographics, maps, fast facts, quizzes, and more!

Our Programs: Teaching Human Impact

Our Human Impact program  ‘The Earth Under Threat’ aims to educate and inspire children to want to learn more and protect our oceans.

Students:

  • Learn what humans do can harm the marine environment
  • Identify how changes to the marine environment; like weather patterns, land clearing, over-fishing, and pollution, affect it, its creatures, and us
  • Realise individuals can make a difference in caring for the marine environment and the need for all humans to accept personal responsibility for protecting it

To find out more, click HERE

Key dates coming up:

September 2022

4th  – National Wildlife Day

7th  – Threatened Species Day

18th – World Clean Up Day

17th – Int. Coastal Cleanup Day

17th – World Manta Day

18th – Sea Otter Awareness Week

24th – Fish Amnesty Day

 

Support a whale charity:

Whale & Dolphin Conservation
Marine Conservation
Sea Shepherd
Humpbacks & Highrises

 

DOWNLOAD FREE MIGRATION CALENDAR

Humpback Whale Migration Guide

whale watching

After a summer of feeding on up to 4 tonnes of krill in nutrient-rich chilly Antarctic waters, more than 20,000 Humpback Whales migrate north to the sub-tropical waters of East Coast Australia. They head to the warm waters of the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef, to mate and give birth. The east coast migration is one of the longest migratory journeys of any mammal on Earth – up to 10,000 km round trip! Our Humpback Migration Guide will help you make the most of one of the most incredible shows on earth…

To get the full low down on the east coast migration, check out our online course. humpback whale

When to Watch the Humpback Migration

The exact timing of the humpback migration can vary slightly from year to year but generally the whales can be easily seen off the East Coast at the following times:

May – Aug             Migrating north (generally 5-10km from the coast)

Sept – Nov            Migrating back South (often with new-born calves)

This map highlights some of the best whale watching lookouts on the east coast.

Tip: The whales are normally easier to see migrating south as they tend to travel closer to shore, protecting their calves from predators.

 

Check out our humpback migration calendar for more details…

Humpback Migration Calendar

Time of Day whale tail

Morning – Calm morning waters make easy viewing, before the wind picks up.

Evening – Sunsets make for spectacular whale watching as the changing light highlights the action.

 

Where to Watch 

The humpback’s spectacular acrobatic displays are often easily observed from the beach or land-based lookouts – so everyone gets the chance to watch for free!!

 

 

Best Whale Watching on the Sunshine Coast whale watching

The best whale watching on the Sunshine Coast can be observed from…

  • Coolum: Point Perry or Point Arkwright, Coolum
  • Kawana: Point Cartwright
  • Moffat Beach Headland
  • Noosa: Hells Gate, Noosa National Park
  • Alexandra Headland

Queensland Whale Watching by Boat 

whale watchingOur favorite places to go whale watching by boat…

-Mooloolaba

-Hervey Bay: about a quarter of humpbacks enter Hervey Bay

-Whitsundays

-Great Barrier Reef

Best Whale Watching near Brisbane

In our opinion, the best whale watching near Brisbane is from…

  • North Stradbroke Island – Point Lookout

 

Whale Watching Tips Humpback eye

Here are our whale watching tips – to ensure you get the most from your experience

  • Be respectful and mindful – follow 100 meter distance regulations
  • Take binoculars
  • Take a copy of our Identifying Humpbacks guide so you know what you’re looking for
  • Get up high for a better view
  • Be patient
  • Get educated so you can impress your friends with the facts!

 

Don’t forget to look out for East Coast Australia’s most famous white humpback whale. It’s Aboriginal name is ‘Migaloo’ or ‘white fella’.

 

 

 

Why We Need Whales

Whales are essential to the marine eco-system and therefore to us. They help to keep our oceans healthy. As we get up to 70% of our oxygen from the sea, we need it to be healthy enough to produce that oxygen, else we humans can’t survive!

5 Ways You Can Protect Whales

  1. Educate yourself & your friends
  2. Whale watch with a responsible company & keep 100 metres away
  3. Report sick or injured animals
  4. Reduce plastic usage & do not litter
  5. Support a whale charity:

Whale & Dolphin Conservation
Marine Conservation
Sea Shepherd
Humpbacks & Highrises

 

 

humpback whale kids courseTo get educated about the humpback migration and why we need to protect whales, why not check out our online course for kids

 

 

 

amazing sharks kids courseInterested in other courses for kids? Check out our Amazing Sharks Course

Humpback Whale Kids Course

Woohoo!!! The humpbacks are coming up the coast, so we’re celebrating their arrival with an awesome new Humpback Whale Kids Course

 

humpback migration

 

More than 20,000 Humpback Whales migrate up the East Coast of Australia from May each year. It’s one of the longest migratory journeys of any mammal (up to 10,000km) and it’s free and easy to watch from the coast. So why not get the low down on the migration and get down to the ocean to experience what’s probably the greatest acrobatic show on earth!

 

 

Humpback Whale Kids Course Content

We’ve created awesome videos, images, fast facts, infographics, a whale watching guide, humpback ID chart, a migration calendar, maps, quizzes and more that will arm you with all you need to know about humpbacks.

 

 

Check out our Humpback Whale Kids Course

Whale Watching Guide

whale watchingOur whale watching guide includes everything you need to know about whale watching, including:

When & where to go whale watching

Humpback whale migration calendar

Best lookout points: QLD & NSW

Whale watching tips

Humpback identification chart

 

 

Humpback Videos

humpback & calf

 

Our short humpback videos include amazing footage of humpbacks doing what they do best – breaching, slapping and  singing! so, we’ve added some lively music which we think goes pretty well with the whales – it’s big and bold too!!

 

 

 

Check out our Humpback Whale Kids Course

 

 How to Protect Humpback Whales

We can all do our bit to help protect humpback whales, like…

Educate yourself & your friends

Whale watch with a responsible company & keep 100 metres away

Report sick or injured animals

Reduce plastic usage & do not litter

 

 

Support a whale conservation organisation…

Whale & Dolphin Conservation au.whales.org/

Marine Conservation marineconservation.org.au/whaling/

Sea Shepherd seashepherd.org.au/

Humpbacks & Highrises hhr.org.au/

 

humpback whaleHumpback Whale Kids Online Course

 

 

 

humpback teaching resources

Humpback Whale Teaching Resources