Regular sightings of humpback whales off the Victorian coast during winter suggests the region may be a migratory corridor. We report observations of feeding and the presence of newborn and young calves in this region which indicate that these waters are also important to the life history of the species.
Validated humpback whale sightings totalling 1346 events were recorded in Bass Strait between 2015 and 2024. These records included 92 instances (6.34%) of feeding and the presence of 11 young calves on the northerly migration. As the majority of these records were recorded by citizen scientists in the near coastal environment, it is reasonable to assume these behaviours may also be occurring more widely across Bass Strait. Records of newborn and young calves in this area during winter is unusual given humpback calving is typically associated with lower latitude locations.
These results suggest Bass Strait holds greater ecological importance for humpback whales than just a migratory corridor. Furthermore, these findings highlight the value of integrating a multiple lines of evidence approach to better understand large migratory species habitat use and life history. This new understanding should be included during environmental assessment and decision-making processes for the wider Bass Strait region.