Today marked the grand finale of our whale watching season here in Augusta, and what a fitting farewell it was! As we bid goodbye to another amazing season in Augusta, the whales gave us one last unforgettable display of their vibrant and complex social world.
We began our final tour by meeting a determined escort pod, a female accompanied by a committed male, travelling steadily toward the reef line. Their blows stood tall at 2–3 metres, and their focus was clear: onward to the warm breeding grounds of the Kimberley. Their calm yet purposeful movements reminded us just how focused these ocean giants become as they progress northward on their great journey.
Not long after, the energy escalated as we approached the coastline and found ourselves witnessing the tail end of a dramatic competition pod. Three male humpbacks were in hot pursuit of one of the season’s last remaining females moving through Finders Bay. The water churned with excitement and trumpeting echoed across the waves, even a pod of local dolphins seemed to get swept up in the action. Suddenly, the competition reached its climax as the largest male surged to the surface with a powerful head lunge just off our bow! With that decisive move, the other males dispersed, leaving the triumphant escort male to accompany the female towards the reef.
One of the unsuccessful males lingered behind, clearly still riding an adrenaline high. He circled our vessel repeatedly, releasing sharp trumpeting exhales and splashing about, perhaps voicing his frustration at the outcome. Meanwhile, a nearby bachelor pod who likely were also contenders in the earlier competition grew curious about our presence. These boisterous boys spy-hopped near the boat and rolled playfully on their backs, turning sideways as if to greet our passengers. It was a magical and close encounter with the lighter side of humpback social behaviour.
These incredible interactions offered a powerful insight into the fission-fusion society that defines humpback whale life. Unlike fixed pods seen in some other species, humpbacks form temporary groupings that change dynamically. Forming and dissolving relationships as circumstances shift. Competition pods, bachelor alliances, and escort pairings are all part of a constantly evolving social network that supports both mating and migration.
As the curtain closes on the Augusta chapter of this year’s migration, we are filled with gratitude for the countless memories made on these pristine southern waters. While our time here has come to an end for the season, the whales continue their epic journey and so will we. Next stop: Fremantle Port, where the next chapter of the humpback story unfolds.
