The Southern Right Whale has pectoral fins that are approximately 20% of their body length and beautiful round and smooth. Looking carefully at the pectoral fin image captured today we can see the outlines of the bones, the structure of these bones is the exact same as our own hand as we see the phalanges of a Southern Right Whale! The shorter pectoral fins assist during the many months a Southern Right Whale will be resting, nursing or mating in the shallow waters found close to southern Australian coastlines. Acting just like rudders on a boat they help with stability and manoeuvrability creating a very sleek moving 80,000 kilogram whale when in only 8 to 10 meters of water!
Our morning began with an escort pod of Humpback Whales with a male and female enjoying a relaxing Sunday morning “stroll” through Flinders Bay. A lovely time spent with these two as August is Southern Right Whale month with the occasional Humpbacks sighted moving through the bay in anticipation of the southern migration. The Southern Right Whales were enjoying their morning with the courtship pod back together again and the younger male is still enjoying the company of his female. They relaxed with us and continued their social display right alongside our vessel as we enjoyed every moment of watching these beautiful Right Whales. A very exciting end to our morning as Mr. and Mrs. Stacka had joined us and we were so pleased for them to be able to meet their whale “Godchild” little Stacka the Southern Right Whale calf. We all had a good giggle today when we noticed where Stacka has gotten his white chin from as Mr. Stacka pointed out, he also has a white chin too!
