First southbound Humpback mum and calf sighted today as we were thrilled to meet one of the newest additions to the population with a midday escort pod cruising just off Rottnest Island. It was a wonderful surprise to see our first new bub for the southbound migration and he or she was so very healthy! Mum was in good condition as well and being an older female this was likely to be one of many calves she has had over the years. Most females will welcome a new calf every two to three years on average and as they get older their motherly skillset will continue to improve. The little one was a reflection of just how good a mum this particular female had become as her calf was healthy, travelling strongly and filled with much enthusiasm to be exploring these resting grounds for the very first time.
Hopefully this will be the start of many more little family pods heading south as we continue to move through spring. The midday tour was a different tempo as we joined with two adult whales, a male and female travelling together in an escort pod. Having just arrived at the start of the resting grounds, these two were deciding where they wanted to go next. Should they move further into the resting grounds to find a suitable place to bunker down and rest for a little while or would it be better to move out towards Rottnest Island and continue their southbound journey this afternoon. A big tail lob from the male indicated he was making sure no one with cooee was coming near his girl and doing a great job of being the protective male escort/bodyguard. It is an exciting time of the year as we see a mix of age groups starting to move through the resting grounds and how important these waters are for all age groups.
