Whales: from rare babies to population increases
A coffee on the first day of the last month of winter with the lovely editor of the Flame, Genevieve, turned into utter chaos after two heads popped up just beyond the breakers in Thirroul. Whales! Cue me scrambling to quickly gather all my things, give some hasty apologies and start a jog to the car. These weren’t just any old whales (is there really such a thing?) but an incredibly special sighting of an endangered Southern Right Whale and her calf.
And even more exciting, these individuals had been spotted at Cape Solander a couple of days prior and the Right Whale ID Program has confirmed this is a previously unidentified female and that her calf was only a few days old. They’ve been named Grey Cape (adult) and Samsara (calf). There’s been a few of these log-shaped mammals sighted in the Illawarra this breeding season. The season usually runs from about June to the end of August, so there’s still time to hopefully spot one of these rare beauties. You can tell you’re looking at a SRW by the callosities, the grey and white growths, on their head and their very distinctive ‘V’ shaped blow.
It’s not all about Southern Rights though. We’re already seeing reports of Humpback Whales heading back south after visiting the breeding grounds around the Great Barrier Reef. This is good news for both us and the whales. The population has increased to such a point that the season is spreading out. It’s no good for all the whales to converge on the breeding grounds all at once, too much competition and all that, and so, while we would usually only be seeing whales still heading north, we’re now seeing a good amount of cross-over with plenty of south-bound whales sighted from the whale-watching hot spot Bass Point, in Shellharbour.
Thanks to Mel for her incredible humpback images. You can follow her on Instagram for more amazing nature shots.
Growing a poem forest
What exactly is a poem forest and how on earth do you grow one? Well, firstly you take around 60 students from Waniora Public School and St Joseph’s Primary, you sprinkle them around Arthur Osborne Grove in Bulli, add in some native plants and grasses and mix together with the help of award-winning writer, and NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year 2020 Kirli Saunders and just watch what happens!
Kirli ran a Caring for Country poetry workshop and the students, after a morning of planting, spent time penning some poems which will be entered into an Australian wide poetry competition. And even better, for each poem submitted, a tree is planted at Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. Last year around 5000 trees were planted!
Read more about the day here and about the Poem Forest initiative. Entries are open until 23rd September.
Together We Can book launch
Are you freaking out over the state of the climate? Local climate advocate Claire O'Rourke is launching her first book, Together We Can, at Coledale Community Hall on 14 August, in partnership with the South Coast Writers Centre, which is full of inspirational stories of people enacting change.
Claire will be in conversation with actor and founder of Hi Neighbour Yael Stone, writer and presenter Craig Reucassel, and Wollongong City Councillor Mithra Cox, and local community organisations that are working in the Illawarra for people and planet.
This free event has sold out but you can buy a copy of Together We Can at Collins Booksellers Thirroul, and all good book stores.
Shadow theatre at Wollongong Art Gallery
Save the dates: 19th and 20th August for a FREE, fabulous, shadow performance with a live microtonal orchestra.
Nature On The Loose! is a shadow performance that follows the antics of animals, plants and even aliens in a world where humans have suddenly gone into hiding. The audience is immersed in a tale filled with comedy, myth, politics, and the supernormal.
Tickets are free but registrations are essential. You can book here.