Have a whale of a time on the Peninsula this winter

Winter on the Mornington Peninsula is a fantastic time for land-based whale watching. The back beaches offer amazing views of Bass Strait from beautiful vantage points nestled in native bush. The best places to search for whales along the Peninsula are any high vantage point – of which the Peninsula boasts many. Cape Schanck is the highest open coastal point on the Peninsula and offers expansive views of Bass Strait, perfect for whale spotting. Whale season on the Peninsula commences around the King's Birthday long weekend but some whales may be sighted as early as April.

The humpback whale is the most commonly sighted whale in our region during winter. Humpback whales are characterised by their contrasting grey and white colouration; prominent, elongated pectoral fins; and raised 'bumps' called tubercles on the head. They can reach a maximum length of about 16m and weigh up to 35 tonnes. Typically, sightings of this species involve the animals casually passing by the Peninsula's open coast back beaches, slowly making their way east. Occasionally, these whales may venture into Port Phillip, sometimes making their way to the top of the bay.

While humpbacks are relatively easy to see along the Peninsula during peak season, they are not the only large whale in this region during winter; the critically endangered southern right whale may also be sighted along our coastline. Southern right whales visit our coast for calving and mating, mainly in the state's west. This whale species is larger than the humpback, measuring up to 18m in length. The distinguishing features of the southern right whale are its large/robust appearance, black colouration, lack of a dorsal fin, square-shaped pectoral fins, and white/yellow patches called callosities on its head. For the keen observer, you may also notice the distinctive V-shaped blow when the animal surfaces to breathe.

In recent years we have learnt much about whale movements through interacting with keen whale watchers –citizen scientists – along our coastline. If you'd like to contribute to the conservation and understanding of these magnificent animals, there are two ways you can do so:

• Report sightings of whales and dolphins to the Dolphin Research Institute's Two Bays Whale Project through PodWatch at www. dolphinresearch.org.au/research/ report-sightings/

• Support the Dolphin Research Institute at www.dolphinresearch.org.au/ research/adopt-a-whale/

To learn more about whales and dolphins in our region, visit the Dolphin Research Institute website at www. dolphinresearch.org.au