Aug 18, 2014
With the sun twinkling over the spectacular cliffs on the eastern side of Myridi Bay we lifted Whale Song’s anchor at seven ten in the morning. In the early morning light, the mainland topography was imbued with grey tones, quite beautifully.
A few pods travelled slowly through Yampi Sound catching our attention, but on northern side of Koolan and Cockatoo Islands, we found we were fully awake and glad to be in the mix with humpback whales! A large, very boisterous pod had us grabbing cameras and cards and our behaviour sheet to log in detail all activities by each pod member, over each hour of observation.
In the morning light we raised the anchor and departed Myridi Bay, yet another spectacular Kimberley hideaway.
Several hours later and several thousand photos later, we were consuming lunch on the hop and rotating through tasks. Resty made us bowls of delicious chicken and salami noodles! We had oodles of noodles – yummy! We do really love our work and it is a team effort. Keeping the ship running smoothly, keeping our bellies full and keeping the ship on course, are all very important tasks, but having taken care of those things, we haven’t even begun to collect an ounce of cetacean data… This takes even more concentration by all parties to stay with the whales and to record the scientific data, carefully and concisely. Well done Team Whale Song! Over the last few weeks, everyone has made a huge effort with a job well done!
Being a male humpback whale means 40 tons and 17 m of angst and testosterone that appears to require bashing and thrashing against other whales! All this male argy-bargy, sorts out who is who and who goes where, especially in relation to attaining the role of Primary Escort when the pod engages with a female. It’s hard work and it’s rough and tumble. I am glad I can just watch from a distance – I wouldn’t last long in the middle of all that mess!
Four whales surface together, there are another eleven around!
Over the course of the afternoon observing a gang of very rowdy humpback male whales, we travelled from Cockatoo Island towards Powerful Island in the Buccaneer Archipelago. Concluding the research after many hours and hundreds of behavioural observations, we were happy to anchor near Irvine Island and enjoyed tasty bbq sausages with potatoes, corn, peas and salad.
Wearing a humpback whale grin today! I am sure I shall sleep tonight between counts 1 and 2!
Mich
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