Flirtatious Humpback Whale language was on display today as onboard both our tours flirty female Humpback Whales led feisty competition pods through Flinders Bay. It was a busy day for the bachelor boys as they were kept busy approaching female Humpback Whales who were calling out for their attention. The winter months are peak breeding season time for the Humpback Whales on their annual migration to warmer waters. Augusta is a fantastic location for the males as the migration slows and whales converge in the bay which enables opportunities for them to approach other pods and search for available females. This morning we had a female leading the males across Flinders Bay as they started on the eastern side and she led the males erratically to keep ahead of the commotion. Eventually they found themselves near the reef line with all challengers still accounted for and no signs of any wanting to leave the competition as they departed the bay.
The afternoon was a similar theme as a very large female put on an incredible display of breaching and pec slapping to attract the boys. It worked perfectly as soon she was surrounded by five enormous bachelor males surging after her as she breached and pec slapped her way across the bay. It is very flirty surface language and indicates to the males that she wants their attention and is encouraging them to pursue her. Pursue they definitely did as all the boys raced after her with plenty of incredibly loud trumpets and boisterous chin slaps to intimidate all the males around them as the female led them on a high speed chase all the way out of Flinders Bay. It was brilliant to be amongst the action and observe such an incredible display of the Language of the Whales as a perfect example of how female Humpback Whales flirt was on display this afternoon. Wishing this boisterous pod well we watched on as they continued northbound with multiple blows around them as further pods joined in on the migration path to warmer waters. It certainly had a feeling that this competition pod was set for a big afternoon ahead with plenty more challengers likely to join as they gathered pace, yet another incredible day with the Humpback Whales.
