“Looks like the same nasty 25 knot southeasterly blowing,” says Annie.

We decide to have breakfast and see if we can catch a break in the weather.

Twenty minutes later I am scanning the horizon, “Blows, several of them near shore,” I shout out.

“Let’s roll,” says Annie.

And off we head to the harbor.

Fifteen minutes later we hit our mark, about 2.75 miles east of the Abel Point Marina.

“There!” points Annie.

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Annie anxiously watches as vessel after vessel nearly miss our mother calf pods

This vessel never slowed down and came within meters of striking the whales

Sail boats, while silent, may approach undetected and result in collisions

Perhaps a yacht race during whale season is not a good thing

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29 August 2010

Despite the challenging weather and rain squalls about, we head out to sea.

One of the main purposes of our study is the development of a long-term data set of reproductively active females. Since 1984 we have documented the life histories of over 500 female humpback whales and their offspring. This is one of the largest known data sets of breeding humpback whales in the world.

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Annie forever on the search

Mother and calf slowly cruise north through the islands

Just east of Hayman, a mother, calf and singing escort

Yachties rejoice, there is a lee here!

We allow Amanda to wash down the research boat one more time before heading to Hervey Bay

Glorious fried fish and chips -- "Best in Oz...Two Greasy Thumbs Up" says Annie

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27 August 2010

The wind is up today, blowing some 20 -25 knots from the southwest. There is a real nip in the air.

“It’s cold today,” whinges Annie. “It feels like Eden. I need some more layers.”

“Eden?” I scoff. “It is so cold out, that its almost 75 degrees. The high today in Eden is 61.”

I will grant there is a good chill in the air with the SW blowing, but I think the team is longing for the much warmer weather of Port Douglas. It is winter in Australia, but we are cruising right along the Tropic of Capricorn – how cold can it really be?

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One of hundreds bays and coves in the Whitsundays

A mother and calf located close to Hook Island

Finding respite from the weather

A map of the region we survey on daily basis

The weather worsens, Annie braces against the tropical 'chill' factor while a mother, calf, escort rest near Dumbbell Island

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From 1991 – 1999 we conducted a study of humpback whales in the Whitsunday Islands region of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBR).  The goals of the research (funded jointly by Pacific Whale Foundation and what was then called the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service – now DERM) were to determine the distribution, density of humpback whales in the region and the impacts, if any, of commercial and recreational water users.

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Sunrise over Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Island region

A mother and newborn calf near North Mole Island

Beautiful beach at Border Island, note the clear water

Mother and calf resting near Edward Island

Was it all a dream?

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