WAMSI 2 - Kimberley Node - Project 1.2.1b - Monitoring of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) at Pender Bay, southern Kimberley region

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate annually along the coast of Western Australia (WA) from their summer Antarctic feeding grounds to warm tropical waters in the Kimberley for breeding. Given the remote nature of the Kimberley marine environment and the very large range of humpback whales across known breeding and resting areas, it can be difficult to gather sufficient data to assess their distribution and to monitor population health. A four year project underway at Two Moons Whale and Marine Research Base at Pender Bay, WA (McKay and Thiele 2008, Blake and Dapson 2011) offered an opportunity to assess the value of using a land based site manned by volunteers as a cost effective means of gathering suitable data. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the data collection methods used at this research station, extend data collection for an additional year and evaluate the 5 year dataset to understand humpback whale use of Pender Bay.Data collection included counts of all humpback whale groups (noting size and presence of calves) observed at 20 minute intervals from a cliff top viewing platform. Additional information was recorded on environmental variables (tide, sea state, weather) and the presence of vessels. These data were evaluated to assess the timing of the migration season, including peak in the number of individuals and the number of calves across the season and the distribution of whales within the Bay and adjacent waters.Overall a total of 3,695 groups of whales (5,521 individuals) were sighted over the 88 days when observations took place throughout the season. Calves were observed in 187 of these groups. While the peak in number of groups with calves occurred in mid August to September, there was a higher proportion of groups with calves early in the season.

座头鲸（Humpback whales，Megaptera novaeangliae）每年沿西澳大利亚（WA）海岸迁徙，从夏季的南极觅食场前往金伯利温暖的热带水域进行繁殖。由于金伯利海洋环境偏远，且已知的座头鲸繁殖与休憩区域跨度极大，难以收集足够数据以评估其分布状况并监测种群健康。西澳大利亚彭德湾双月鲸鱼与海洋研究基地正在开展一项为期四年的项目（McKay与Thiele，2008；Blake与Dapson，2011），为评估以志愿者值守的陆上观测点作为低成本高效数据收集手段的价值提供了契机。本项目旨在评估该研究站采用的数据收集方法，将数据收集周期延长一年，并对5年的数据集进行分析，以了解座头鲸对彭德湾的利用情况。
数据收集工作通过崖顶观景平台开展，每20分钟对观测到的所有座头鲸群体进行计数，并记录群体规模及幼崽存在情况。此外还记录了环境变量（潮汐、海况、天气）及船只出没情况。基于上述数据，研究人员可评估迁徙季的时间节点，包括全季个体数量峰值、幼崽群体数量峰值，以及鲸群在湾内及邻近水域的分布特征。
整个观测季的88天内，共计记录到3695个鲸群（总计5521头个体），其中187个群体观测到幼崽。尽管带幼崽的鲸群数量峰值出现在8月中旬至9月，但季初带幼崽的群体占比更高。