Thar she blows!!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

The famous white whale, Dopey Mick, or as he's known to the non-dyslexic world, Migaloo, has just past my captain's cabin perched high on the cliff overlooking the entrance to Port Macquarie. I've spent a few hours a day for the past few weeks watching the humpbacks making their way up the east coast of Oz to their winter playground at Hervey Bay in Queensland. Migaloo is getting so famous now that he has his own website (although its not kept up-to-date http://www.migaloowhale.org/ ) Migaloo is an aboriginal word meaning 'white fella' ... Anyways, Thar She Blows!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/29/2699326.htm?site=northcoast

The albino humpback Migaloo thrilled whale watchers on the north coast yesterday as it made a cameo appearance on its way south.

The white whale swam through the centre of Byron Bay and passed with 500 metres of Cape Byron.

The visitor services officer at the headland reserve, David Moore, says it was the first time in 10 years on the job he's seen the rare mammal.

"It didn't breach which was unfortunate but it was sort of quite playful, a bit of tail slapping and stuff so it was good, the public enjoyed it," Mr Moore said.

"The people that were here, it's busy anyway with the holidays so there was (sic) a lot of people here at the time and yeah, everyone was very excited and it was quite visible, like that was the main thing, you really can see it quite easily," he said.

(this report put him just north of me, heading south, so I'm off to sit on the headland - CYA!!)

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

oooo Migaloo goes to Hollywood ...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/08/migaloo-the-white-whale-.html

Migaloo the white whale sighted for first time in two years off Australia

But readers of this blog know that Migaloo has been seen a few times already this year ... thats Hollywood for you!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

So, the war games are over - by all reports the US won the war games but the locals won the bar room brawls.

Today there were at least five media reports about our friend, Dopey Mick, aka Migaloo.

The Pacific Whale Foundation have sighted Migaloo in tropical waters near Cairns, Great Barrier Reef and have photographed his tail flukes - each whale's tail is different and photos are used to ID each individual whale.
http://www.eturbonews.com/11010/rare-all-white-humpback-whale-sighted-near-great-barrier-reef

News Ltd newspapers (publishers of News of the World and other sensationalist rags {I'm allowed to bag them, I used to work for them}) are running stories that Migaloo may have developed a tumour. They do have a nice photo gallery of the ultra-rare white whale here:
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/08/14/58255_local-news.html

BTW 7seas do a funny ultra-rare white whale called 'Moby Dick' complete with pirate hat! So there we have it - Migaloo is a pirate!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

And now Dopey Mick is headed towards the US Navy, apparently with the intent to put an end to the war games!

What's the betting on the outcome of this latest development?:
1. Migaloo puts and end to the war games 2:1
2. The US Navy puts an end to Migaloo 3:1
3. The Japanese whalers put an end to Migaloo 3:1
4. Hundreds of humans rally and attack the 30,000 troops that are conducting the war games 4:1
5. 30,000 troops rally and attack the protestors 5:1
6. Hundreds of whales rally and attack the navy 10:1

Fears for Migaloo's safety in 'war' zone
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/fears-for-migaloos-safety-in-war-zone-20090712-dgwf.html
The State Government has warned whale watchers to steer clear of the migrating mammals, including the white whale Migaloo, but perhaps the 30,000 troops planning to bomb central Queensland waters should also be told.

The Talisman Sabre war games involving 20,000 United States and 10,000 Australian troops start live-firing exercises tomorrow, at Shoalwater Bay, just north of Rockhampton.

The area is visited by migrating whales as well as being home to dugongs, dolphins, turtles and many other sea creatures, conservationists and peace activists say.

Professor Peter Harrison of Southern Cross University's Whale Research Centre said records showed humpback whales had been recorded "in the vicinity of Shoalwater Bay".

Less than two weeks ago, the rare albino humpback dubbed Migaloo was spotted at the Gold Coast, heading north.

Protesters from Peace Convergence, representing several groups, say Migaloo and thousands of his companions would reach the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area about the same time the live firing starts. Parts of the training area, covering 454,500 hectares of land and water, are within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Protesters say that, as well as the risk of being bombed, the whales might be affected by sonar, causing beachings, brain and hearing damage.

Other creatures' breeding and egg-laying could be disrupted, they say.

The Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change, Kate Jones, said on July 3 that Migaloo and his fellow whales needed to continue their journey undisturbed.

"I've granted white whales `special interest' status in Queensland waters to ensure they can swim freely and safely," she said.

"Aircraft pilots, skippers, swimmers and snorkellers need to respect the special limits around these unusually coloured whales and the restrictions around all whales.

"The `special interest' whale declaration means no one can bring a boat or [power-ski] closer than 500 metres or fly an aircraft closer than 2000 feet to the whale without written permission."

The distance for other whales is 100 metres for a boat and 300 metres for power-skis and other personal watercraft.

The Australian Defence Department says "Talisman Saber" (using the American spelling), is "a United States-led, Australian-supported training activity" focused on the planning and conduct of "high end" war-fighting.

The exercises, held every two years, include live firing of ammunition and explosives, amphibious assaults and parachuting.

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/fears-for-migaloos-safety-in-war-zone-20090712-dgwf.html

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

A scientist has put forward a theory that Migaloo is not a sperm whale - we already knew that - he's a humpback!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/5793317/White-humpback-whale-Migaloo-has-low-sperm-count.html

White humpback whale Migaloo has low sperm count
Migaloo, the white humpback whale that migrates along the east coast of Australia each year, may never reproduce because he could have a low sperm count, scientists fear.
The whale bears scars on his back from a collision with a boat propellor and scientists believe the way the scars have healed may provide an insight into his health.
Professor Peter Harrison, the director of Southern Cross University's whale research centre in New South Wales, said the whale was "very special" but may never breed.
"The scarring pattern on his back where the trimaran dagger-board [centreboard] sliced into him indicates that he is not healing in the same way, with the dark pigment pattern that we'd expect from other humpback whales," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"And that sort of confirms... that he may well be albino. Now one of the things associated with albinism in mammals is that it quite often leads to low sperm count or sperm infertility.

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

Two more of Migaloo breaching:

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

Then of course there's the other 'white fella' that comes a'visitin' along the coast at this time of year ... The Great White Death ... White Pointer ... Great White

Large Numbers of Great White Sharks Found Plotting a Conspiracy

At least 27 great white sharks have been discovered swimming yards off the sandy tourist beaches of Australia’s Mid-North Coast, a video crew said Friday.

The crew said it spotted the 10-feet-long juvenile sharks in the Port Stephens natural harbor as it was in a boat videotaping for a fishing DVD.

The sharks, the world’s largest known predatory fish, could grow to more than 20 feet long and weigh up to 5,000 pounds.

On three other days Al McGlashan and his Strikezone video crew found an average of 16 great whites a day — all between 6 feet and 10 feet long.

http://www.fearbeneath.com/2008/11/large-numbers-of-great-white-sharks-found-plotting-a-conspiracy/#more-1240

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

"Migaloo forced the suspension of US and Australian military war games in central Queensland after he was spotted in waters nearby"

I wonder if he was sighted in the waters of Antiquity whether he'd stop the battle ...... mmmmmm .... more than likely!

[Tweed]

Gude on him! Even whales need a bit of privvacy I reckon.

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

For those interested, Migaloo has reached the waters off Queensland and has a day or two before he reaches the humpback's winter playground at Hervey Bay. Communities along the coast are miffed if they don't get to see him, as the newspaper report below suggests. Note: he's travelling between 9 - 18kmh and has covered a huge distance this past week.

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jul/03/migaloo-gives-coast-watchers-slip/

Migaloo gives Coast watchers the slip
9:00a.m. 3rd July 2009

White whale Migaloo appears to have given Sunshine Coast whale watchers the slip on his journey north. The world-famous ocean mammal is believed to be as far north as the Fraser Coast, according to the Department of Environment and Resource Management, if his high-speed travel of 18kmh has continued.

A DERM spokeswoman said the department estimated Migaloo could already be as far north as the Fraser Coast area, but added there was every possibility the whale might yet make a Sunshine Coast appearance.

"He has been travelling in speeds ranging from 9kmh to 18kmh, so it really depends on his movements and also whether he is in the company of other whales," she said.

"We are actually extremely fortunate to have seen him this time. Very rarely does he make an appearance on his way south."

Migaloo is aged between 21 and 23 and weighs about 35 tonnes.

He has gained fame for his albino colouring and a large scar he sustained when surfacing under an ocean-going yacht near Townsville in 2003.

In 2007, Migaloo forced the suspension of US and Australian military war games in central Queensland after he was spotted in waters nearby.