Over 600 citizen scientists armed with binoculars, folding chairs, and flasks of hot tea have just documented something extraordinary along Australia’s eastern coastline. They witnessed the highest number of whale sightings ever recorded in the country’s history. More than 5,000 confirmed humpback whale sightings were made during the latest migration count, as these magnificent creatures make their way north from Antarctica with their calves in record-breaking numbers. This incredible transformation represents one of conservation’s greatest success stories, as whale populations have grown remarkably since the international whaling moratorium took effect in the 1980s.
The contrast is staggering: in the 1960s, perhaps only a few hundred humpback and minke whales would pass along Australia’s east coast, but this year an estimated 40,000 whales are expected to make the journey north. What makes this discovery even more remarkable is that it was achieved through the power of community science, with volunteers lining 159 individual locations along the coast of New South Wales, proving that ordinary people can contribute to extraordinary scientific breakthroughs. As one three-year volunteer put it, “It’s a wild species coming right on our doorstep and they’re just magnificent creatures.” This record-breaking migration isn’t just good news for whales, it’s proof that when humanity comes together for conservation, we can literally bring species back from the brink of extinction.