TRANSCRIPT
Every year, Australians gather along the country's eastern coastline to document the world's longest mammal migration.
Around 40,000 humpback whales undertake the journey from Antarctica to the warmer waters along the Australian coast where they mate, calve, and nurture their newborns.
It is a distance of 5,000 kilometres made over three months.
Weighing 36,000 kilograms, the humpback whales are not the fastest swimmers but they make up for it by travelling non-stop for days at a time.
From the sweeping coastline at Port Stephens in New South Wales, these members of the public have been volunteered to help count sightings of whales - including the humpback - over a 24-hour period.
Voxie 1: "Well, it is a beautiful day to be out. And it's quite special looking at whales. I actually got to see one breach (when a whale propels its body out of the water) - so that's amazing."
Voxie 2: "We're looking for whales so we can get good photographs and pictures of whales." Voxie 3: "And I used to come out here as a child many years, decades ago - and it wasn't a thing because I suppose there were so few. Whale watching wasn't something people knew about - or did. And I suppose the increase in numbers is really made it (whale watching) such a popular thing now."
The conservation group that organises the event is called ORRCA - or the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia.
Vice President Steve Trikoulis says it is the 26th year of the census - and each time seeing the animals is memorable.
"What's fascinating I think is because getting out to the water is not easy - or accessible for everyone. So being able to see these majestic creatures just from the headland, so close to you. And just having that experience, I think is a breathtaking experience for all. When they get to the tropical waters, they start breeding and the newborns start playing around, start mucking around. And everyone gets really excited. And then when they commence their southern migration (return journey to Antarctica) around August period, they obviously get really excited when they're at the headland because that's when the calves slap and breach and do all sorts of cool tricks that we all love to watch."
He says it is heartening to see everyday Australians take part in the citizen science project, described as one of the longest running in Australia.
"Citizen science plays a key role in helping scientists do the important work that they do. And one of the cool, amazing things about the census is we get to monitor patterns, behaviours - and we might even get lucky and potentially even see a southern right whale sneak through the coastline. It's very unique because there is only on the east coast of Australia - two or three hundred that do migrate. So there are not many out there."]
All sightings over the 24-hour period are recorded using an online reporting system.
This year's count has already broken the 2023 record of 5,000 sightings - that could include repeated sightings of the same animal.
The full tally is still being finalised.
The growth of the humpback whale population in particular has been encouraging for conservationists, growing from a low point of hundreds in the 1960s.
Volunteer Susan Moody says she has participated in the census for the last five years.
"It's very rewarding knowing the humpback population is thriving. And this year, we're hoping to get a more accurate number. We estimate between 50- and 60,000. But the southern right whale is only the hundreds - as far we know - and we haven't had many sightings this season. Although they do tend to go a little bit later. And there is a little of crossover when the humpbacks are coming, some of the southern rights are passing."
Kristyn Glanville, a local councillor with the Northern Beaches Council, who also made the time to take part in the whale count.
As an environment and planning law solicitor, she says she doesn't consider herself to be the most skilled citizen scientist - but feels it is important to take part.
"I don't think I'm a very good citizen scientist because I'm not very good at spotting the whales, but when you have species that are in decline, are endangered and under threat. Every bit of information that residents and citizen scientists can collect is really important to inform the picture of understanding how many of that species is out there. And I think having people help collect the data makes them also appreciate more that we do live in harmony, hopefully, ideally with animals and being able to help collect the data gives (results in) investment and policies that help to keep that species healthy."
