Close encounters with whales at Augusta

"The first time we heard it, we were standing there with a group of tourists on deck and there were no whales in sight, then suddenly we heard this amazing sound of song," recalled Terri Mitchell, who with her husband Steve runs whale-watching tours out of Augusta and Dunsborough. "We opened the back hatch of the boat so we could hear it more clearly. "The vibrations were hitting the hull of the boat and that was making it a bit louder. "It was incredible, because we couldn't see them but we could hear them." Whale song can travel many kilometres and is a form of communication between whales. Usually it is the male singing to attract females. Terri said that sometimes the whales came in so close to the Naturaliste Lady that those on board got wet from a whale's spout or blow. "It is really hot moisture-laden air, and when you consider the size of the whales their lungs are the size of a small family four-door car, and they are exhaling at 640km an hour," she said. "Also, because they are on the surface they can take in an amount of sea water and that can get caught up and travel up into the air. "The blow looks like a steam or fountain of hot air, like a small fine white cloud." Increasing numbers of close encounters between the Naturaliste Lady and these giant mammals are seen as an indication that during the past five years the whales have become more accustomed to the boat and are becoming braver and indulging their curiosity. "CALM sets very stringent regulations; we can only approach up to 100m from a whale and any other move forwards is up to the whale," Terri said. "Each year they are coming closer and closer and they have come as close as one or two metres. "We are starting to build up a relationship with the whales and there are a lot who are familiar with the sound of the boat's engine and approach us. "We have even started to recognise individual whales and we are having more and more of what we call close encounters with the whales. "On about half our cruises, the whales come as close as 20m." Some of those who have made the journey to see the whales become emotional when they first see them breaching or flapping their tails. "It is not uncommon to see people with tears running down their cheeks," Terri said. "I feel humbled by the big picture of nature, seeing a 40 tonne whale, and it can make people feel insignificant and very moved when they see such huge, graceful and curious creatures. "In our lives nowadays, many of us live in urban situations where we no longer interact with nature and this is particularly true for some of our overseas visitors. "I feel very privileged to watch a species of whales that could have been extinct if we hadn't stopped whaling." In early winter, the Humpback whales begin their northern migration from the Antarctic along the west coast to the warm water off the northern coast of WA, where they spend a few months mating and breeding. Between June and August the whales journey into Flinders Bay at Augusta, their first contact with land since leaving the Antarctic. Flinders Bay, the site of a whaling station, was also the site of a mass whale stranding in 1985, with the whales the subject of a community rescue and many saved. Southern Right whales are also a familiar sight in the bay. In 1998 there were 400 whale sightings in the Cape to Cape region and they are increasing each year. One of the rare sights is newborn calves with their mothers in July and August. As the season ends and the whales begin to journey back to the Antarctic for summer feeding, the Naturaliste Lady sails to Geographe Bay in Dunsborough to view the Humpbacks as they migrate south. The Mitchells have become involved with ongoing research into whales, including marine biology sightings and water temperature. To witness the majesty of the humpback whales at the beginning of their northern migration, call Steve or Terri Mitchell on (08) 97552 276 or 018 938 056. You can also book at any tourist bureau in the city or South West and at Leeeuwin Souvenirs in Augusta.