Marine mammals
There are four
species of marine mammal that are seen regularly in the Pumicestone Region,
either in
Moreton Bay, the Pumicestone Passage or the Coral Sea.
Humpback Whale.
These impressive
beasts migrate through the area each Austral winter on their northward journey from
Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef and beyond, and can be seen from about July
until October. At this time, it is not unusual to see mothers with their calves,
sometimes escorted by large bulls for protection.
They are rarely
encountered in Moreton Bay but a good place to observe them is from the
headlands of Caloundra. Tangalooma Whale Watch Cruises, within easy reach of the
area, run regular cruises throughout the migration period, with sightings virtually
guaranteed once you pass the northern tip of Moreton Island.
Dugong.
The endangered Dugong
can be found in any coastal area, especially where there is plenty of seagrass
for them to graze on, but by far the best chance of seeing one is to take a
cruise in the Pumicestone Passage.
Ferryman Cruises,
based on Bribie Island, offer several cruises each week and take pride in
showing Dugongs to their passengers. As with all wildlife, Dugongs can be
elusive at times, but the chances are usually pretty good that there will be a
sighting.
"Inshore"
Bottle-nosed Dolphin.
Both
Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Indo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphins are fairly common in coastal waters and also in the Pumicestone Passage.
Bottle-nosed are a darker grey than Indo-Pacific Hump-backed and have longer,
more pointed dorsal fins that curve backwards.
They can be seen from
any of the beaches in the area as well as from cruises in the Pumicestone
Passage.
Indo-Pacific
Hump-backed Dolphin.
Indo-Pacific Hump-backed
Dolphins are
perhaps slightly less common than Bottle-nosed but are still seen
regularly. They are a lighter grey than
Bottle-nosed and have shorter, triangular dorsal fins.
They can be seen from
any of the beaches in the area as well as from cruises in the Pumicestone
Passage.
Other mammals.
Other species of
marine mammal can occur but are extremely rare. Both Spinner Dolphin and New
Zealand Fur Seal have been recorded in recent years.
Eastern Grey
Kangaroos might be spotted as you cruise past Toorbul, and you might see Flying
Foxes emerging at dusk. But these hardly qualify as marine mammals!
Top
of Page
|
