Humpback whales make “utilitarian” use of two Queensland stopover sites

Migrating humpback whales use two Australian marine bays for different reasons, a new study concludes.

Researchers conclude that Moreton Bay Marine Park, next to the city of Brisbane, is used mainly as a place where humpback whale mothers can rest and nurse their calves. Further north in Hervey Bay, migrating humpbacks stopped there for a variety of reasons—to rest, feed, socialize, etc.

“The results of systematic whale surveys conducted in both areas at staggered periods during the 2021 whale season showed Hervey Bay supported a more heterogeneous mix of demographic groups, while Moreton Bay had a significantly greater number of calf-groups,” Griffith University researchers said.

Their findings were recently published in the online journal PLOS ONE.

“Whales in both bays exhibited similar resting behaviors, but social interactions among juveniles were unique to Hervey Bay,” the researchers wrote.