Humpback Whales Have Super Feeding Events in Australian Waters

Abstract

Each year, the east Australian humpback whale population migrates between their Antarctic feeding grounds, where they spend the summer feeding, to their sub-tropical breeding grounds, where they give birth. Historically, this population was once hunted in both Antarctica and off Australia, however, since whaling ended in the early 1960s, this population has continued to recover. As the population continues to grow, we may now be witnessing “new” behaviors. For the first time, scientists have footage of humpback whales bubble-net feeding and feeding in “super-groups” of 20+ whales in Australian waters. This footage was collected by citizen scientists—regular citizens who help scientists monitor this whale population. These feeding observations are important for understanding how this whale population is changing—not just in numbers but also behaviors—and what we can do to protect whale populations into the future.