What’s Happening?
A new study led by UNSW Sydney has revealed that humpback whale calves are being born much further south than previously believed — with sightings reported from Queensland all the way to Tasmania, Western Australia, and New Zealand. The research, published this week, compiles more than 200 verified sightings since 2016, with a spike in 2023 and 2024.
Lead author Jane McPhee-Frew, a PhD candidate and part-time whale-watching skipper, made the first key observation near Newcastle in 2023. That moment launched a wider investigation involving citizen scientists, government wildlife agencies, and tourism operators.
“The calf was tiny, obviously brand new,” said McPhee-Frew. “What were they doing here? But none of my tourism colleagues seemed surprised.”
Why It Matters
Humpbacks have long been believed to calve only in warmer waters like the Great Barrier Reef. These new findings suggest the whales may give birth during their migration north — often in busier, more dangerous waters, including shipping lanes off Redlands, the Gold Coast, and major NSW ports.
“It’s not just the sightings themselves that are important,” said McPhee-Frew. “The pattern we’re seeing is mother whales with calves travelling through some of the busiest shipping lanes and urbanised regions.”
Professor Tracey Rogers from UNSW added that newborns are far more vulnerable than adults: “They’re not strong swimmers and often rest on their mum’s back… Imagine giving birth off Hobart and then swimming all the way north.”
Local Impact
Redlands locals are no strangers to whales. Each year, residents and tourists flock to vantage points across the coast to catch glimpses during migration season. However, the presence of calves in Moreton Bay or nearby waters could add new risks, especially with the popularity of recreational boating and jet-skiing in the region.
Dr Adelaide Dedden from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service stressed the need for public awareness:
“We do have a gap in public awareness, particularly among recreational water users,” she said. “People need to be aware that calves are being seen not just on the southern migration but also on the northern one.”
Current guidelines require vessels to stay 100m away from adult whales and 300m from mother-calf pairs.
By the Numbers
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200+ sightings of humpback calves were recorded between 2016 and 2024.
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Two-thirds of those sightings occurred in 2023 and 2024 alone.
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Humpback populations have risen from under 1,000 in the 1960s to around 50,000 today.
Zoom In
The study combined contemporary sightings with 19th-century whaling logbooks and Antarctic expedition records. The findings suggest these behaviours may have always existed but went unnoticed due to plummeting populations after commercial whaling. Today, with more drones, whale-watching boats, and citizen science platforms, we’re seeing what was once invisible.
“Eventually, we just ran out of land to see them from,” said McPhee-Frew, noting sightings extended to the bottom of Tasmania and New Zealand’s South Island.
Zoom Out
The findings call for a fresh look at Australia’s whale migration narrative. Instead of strict north–south routes with fixed breeding zones, whales may use a network of marine environments to calve and rest — even in busy, developed areas. Social media continues to be a major driver of discovery, with users contributing images and data through platforms like Instagram.
“We’ve built a huge repository of data just by encouraging the public to share observations,” said McPhee-Frew.
What to Look For Next?
Future research will examine why mothers continue migrating north post-birth, even though the tropics offer little food. With new calves appearing near urbanised coastlines, increased awareness and compliance with whale protection laws will be crucial.
“We still have a lot to learn,” McPhee-Frew said. “But it’s such a privilege to see whales. We just need to follow the rules so everyone can enjoy.”
