One hundred and seventy eight whales were counted off Seal Rocks yesterday, Sunday, June 30 during this year's annual ORRCA Census Day, while another 17 were recorded off Treachery.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The whales were just a handful of the 2225 humpbacks recorded off the State's East Coast by enthusiasts, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff and Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) volunteers.
Breaching, tail throwing and pectoral fin slapping were all welcome sights as whale watchers busily recorded whale numbers on the 20th annual Census Day.
ORRCA second vice-president, Jools Farrell, said there was a lot of public interaction this year.
"We received a lot of community support this year and it was really great to see," said Mrs Farrell.
"It's just a great day to get out there with children, friends and family just to watch the whales come in.
"I think people are a lot more aware of how beautiful whales are and the spectacle they bring to the ocean with breaching and tail slapping."
Four southern right whales, 168 dolphins, four penguins, one manta ray, two whitebellied sea eagles, one echidna and one Australian Kestral were also in the mix - all clearly not in the water.
An ORRCA rescue team also confirmed a humpback whale was entangled by one white buoy, heading north from Terrigal after being sighted over the weekend (June 30).
"The more whale numbers we get each year unfortunately means there could be more entanglements," said Mrs Farrell.
"This new one is trailing rope from around its mouth and one white buoy behind it.
"It was going at quite a rapid pace so it's really hard to determine where it could be now."
People can contact ORRCA Rescue on 02 9415 3333.
I think people are a lot more aware of how beautiful whales are and the spectacle they bring to the ocean with breaching and tail slapping.
- Jools Farrell
Photo, video or GPS location of the animal are encouraged as soon as possible.
Whales are protected by a 100 metre exclusion zone in Australian waters, 300 metre if they have a calf or 500 metre if the animal is entangled.
Running tally so far: 2225 Humpback whales
- Stradbroke - 39
- Wooli - 2
- Ballina - 5
- Cape Byron - 178
- Tacking Point, Port Mac - 318
- Shelly Beach, Port Mac - 7
- Woopi Headland, Woolgoolga - 3
- Sawtell, Coffs- 51
- Fingal Heads - 17
- Nambucca Heads- 33
- Crowdy Head- 49
- Anna Bay - 5
- Sterzlecki, Newcastle - 56
- Redhead, Newcastle - 122
- Kind Edward Park, Newcastle - 32
- Port Stephens - 78
- Seal Rocks - 178
- Treachery Head - 17
- Terrigal - 123
- Copacabana - 76
- Norah Head - 117
- North Curl Curl - 21
- North Head - 17
- Bondi- 16
- Whale watching Sydney - 20
- Malabar- 29
- Gerringong- 26
- Dalmeny- 11
- Cape Sol - 120
- Bilgola - 96
- Crack Neck - 38
- Booderee - 112
- Tuross Head - 4
- Ulladulla - 116
- Currarong - 8
- Green Cape- 44
- Port Kembla - 8
- Brooms Head - 33