Head of the Bight drawing southern right whale watchers to witness northern migration

[Ulquiorra]

SOMETIME in autumn, when the frigid waters around Antarctica get even colder, the southern right whales start their migration north.

They head to South America, to South Africa, to New Zealand, and, of course, to South Australia, where the Head of the Bight has become a mecca for whale watchers from around the world who flock to the high cliffs to watch these majestic animals.

It’s in these warmer, shallower seas that dozens of Eubalaena australis gather each winter to give birth and mate, before another change in the seasons sees them head south again to the food-rich polar oceans.

Right now at the Head of the Bight – an 11-and-a-half hour haul from Adelaide – there are about 120 right whales in the bay, with about 30 or 40 visible at any one time from the viewing platforms.

Ceduna-based photographer Andrew Brookes snapped many of the whales on these pages.

Even though he’s photographed the creatures from the air at least half-a-dozen times, he never tires of it.

“I just love the wide open spaces in that part of the world,” Mr Brookes said.

“You could see dozens of whales from the plane, including an all-white calf and a slightly older whale that was grey. The white calves turn grey as they get older before they become black adults.”

Mr Brookes said every Australian should try to visit the Head of the Bight during whale season at least once in their life. “It’s a must-see – if you’re driving across the Nullarbor make sure you leave some time.”

The whale gathering is also a boon for researchers, with scientists from around Australia studying the animals in the area. Curtin University researchers carry out an annual count at the Head of the Bight, while Murdoch University scientists investigate southern right whales’ size and girth measurements to better understand body condition and other health metrics.