Cetacean Season 2015

A is for Albatross

Calm water, as we are becoming accustomed to during the night, was accompanied by the usual barnyard chorus of whales.  Phosphorescence in the bow waves sparkled and quickened Skipper’s heart-rate, as he joined me on deck!

A juvenile Yellow-nosed albatross cruised by, I love to be in the company of albatross.

A juvenile Yellow-nosed albatross cruised by, I love to be in the company of albatross.

Just after breakfast we had the first fly-by of an albatross.  Gliding over the glassy, but lumpy-swelled sea, we know we are in southern climes when they make sweeping archs from afar, altering course to pass nearish to Whale Song.  With 6/8 cloud and travelling downwind in the light 7-10 knots of north-westerly breeze, it is very pleasant on the top deck.

Rolling and twisting, we had an excellent view of the body with every turn.  We were unable to help which was excruciating.

Rolling and twisting, we had an excellent view of the body with every turn. We were unable to help which was excruciating.

We had one sighting of a dwarf minke whale but hear humpback whales inshore and pygmy blue whales offshore.  Despite these pleasant distractions, my mind constantly mulls over the distressed whale we encountered yesterday. Helpless to assist , we are desperate to try to understand what might have happened.   Trawling through several hundreds of images Curt came up with a possible scenario.  The whale was a yearling, well-cared for by it¹s mum, as indicated by the healthy body condition and the intact pectoral fins and tail flukes.  What other aliment could it be?  Perhaps it was blind.  The scars and scrapes all over testament to being “clumsy” and banging into mum often and getting multiple barnacle wounds and scars.  The “chain” scar appears to be a deeper scar but the circular patterns perhaps an artefact of the way this calves’ skin heals, suggested by the similar numerous circular marks all over it’s body.  Constantly rolling at the surface in clear distress, we quietly drifted nearby and many rotating sequences were photographed for clues.

I can't get this animal out of my mind, what was this unusual white marking on the right flank?

I can’t get this animal out of my mind, what was this unusual white marking on the right flank?

After 10-11 months producing the calf and then feeding for another 12 months by the mother, the beginning of the northern migration is the time of separation, a break of this strong bond.  Did they separate yesterday?  If  the calf couldn’t see where to go and with the ever-present sharks lurking at sunset (as documented in the Kimberley recently), was the calf literally unable to navigate and migrate?  This is a question almost too awful to ask and contemplate answering…   It certainly was not moving in any distinct direction at all, only rolling and twisting and turning, presumably to fend off the pesky sharks and other fish.  Did the mother know that her calf was blind?  Regardless, the life cycle of a humpback whale must proceed.  Two years of energy deposited and bestowed in and on her young, the mother’s job was over.  This season or next, she’ll do it all again. This is life.

Circles

Intense caring

Life-skill sharing

One year of gestation

And another of lactation

Heading north it’s time to split

Regardless if the calf is fit

Yearlings now on their own

Do they know where to roam?

How does this work?

Does the calf go beserk?

Does mum just bolt?

It’s not her fault!

Innate plan of humpbacks

They don’t live in orca packs

Two hours or two days

The length a male stays

Two years by mum invested

Her metabolic system tested

Intense care of one to one

And then one to noneŠ

It¹s a cut-throat world

The story is unfurled

Across the miles a yearling seeks

Other companions to pass the weeks

This whale, seen last night

Was it blind, or of poor sight?

It’s mum would never know it’s fate

She’s off to find another mate

It¹s life in the humpback whale game

All cetaceans are not the same

Helpless we watched in horror

Hoping there would be no tomorrow

Sharks there as we stayed

It¹s body would never fade

Life dismissed him

Returned to the ecosystem.

(Written by M. Jenner)

The privilege of being offshore often, is that these observations are made. It is an absolute treat to see different whale species, in many different places.

A juvenile Black-browed albatross also came by, what a treat to see them, even if briefly.

A juvenile Black-browed albatross also came by, what a treat to see them, even if briefly.

Within two days we will be alongside in Fremantle.  I am excited beyond words to see our girls, but the high seas still beckon.

Mich

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