Every winter, Southern Right Whales migrate north from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Southern Australian coastline. For nearly three decades, Jenny Schmidt has been part of a team tracking their journey and recording the population recovery of this species – which was once on the brink of extinction. Her involvement in this vital work with Murdoch University funded through the Australian Government National Environment Science Program underlines the important intersection of aviation and environmental conservation.
Aerial Surveys
A long history of whaling in Australian waters left the right whale almost extinct. Increased sightings near Albany on Western Australia’s south coast in the 1970s led biologist John Bannister with WA Museum to begin an aerial survey in 1976 to observe their recovery.
Jenny and photographer Andrew Halsall began their whale survey flights in July 1996, marking nearly three decades of commitment to the project, after the death of pilot John Bell who flew the survey from 1976 and who had been a pilot for Cheyne Beach Whaling.
Initially, Jenny and Andrew conducted three survey flights each year over the course of July, August, and September. However, since 2007, the survey has been streamlined to a single flight conducted over an intense eight-day period. The flight path, covering Fremantle to Ceduna, includes critical whale breeding locations along the coastline.
The planned route includes:
- Day 1: Fremantle – Augusta – Albany
- Day 2: Albany – Bremer Bay – Esperance
- Day 3: Esperance – Israelite Bay – Caiguna
- Day 4: Caiguna – Eucla – Nullarbor – Ceduna
- Day 5: Ceduna – Nullarbor – Eucla – Caiguna
- Day 6: Caiguna – Israelite Bay – Esperance – Albany
- Day 7: Rest day
- Day 8: Albany – Jandakot
While it looks simple on paper, Jenny says things don’t always go to plan. Coastal weather during winter is unpredictable, often requiring adjustments to the schedule. For example, this year’s survey was delayed from the original start date of August 7th to August 21st due to poor weather conditions. Strong winds, low cloud cover, and rain are common hurdles.
Photos are required to document and identify the adult whales – callosities on each southern right whale’s head are like a fingerprint – completely individual. Each whale is orbited at 500’ so that the photographer can get that headshot. This job requires precision, patience, and adaptation to unpredictable coastal weather – teamwork between Andrew and Jenny is essential.
Adapting to the Elements
Ideally, conditions include wind speeds under 15 knots, calm seas with swells under one metre, and clear skies. But as Jenny says, “It’s winter, so that is not always possible.” This year, poor weather disrupted the survey with challenging mixtures of strong winds and turbulence, especially between Esperance and Caiguna. On the windy days, photography was not possible at all.
Complications arose when the Caiguna runway was closed for a day due to rain, and Caiguna running low on Avgas, so a last-minute drum drop needed to be organised. Thanks need to go to Dave Wohling and Mick Rose in Esperance for their help! On days when the weather did cooperate, it gave them perfect survey conditions: light winds, blue skies, and calm seas.
Observing Whale Recovery
Despite the challenges, the survey continues to provide vital information on southern right whale numbers. The population had steadily grown for many years, increasing at an average of 5-6% each year. In both 2022 and 2023, however, there was a distinct drop in sightings, back to numbers counted in 2007. The cause of this fluctuation is uncertain — factors like krill availability or shifts in migration patterns could be at play.
This year, however, both cow/calf pairs and adults on their own showed a positive return in numbers. The survey continues to form a very important part of understanding the southern right whale population dynamics amidst bigger conservation efforts.
Longstanding Collaboration
Jenny and Andrew’s long-standing partnership has been at the core of these surveys since 1996. Changes over the years are not limited to the whale population – technology developments have significantly impacted the way the survey is conducted. From physical maps and film cameras in the early days, today’s work is digital. The mission, however, remains the same: to contribute to the conservation of the southern right whale.
Conservation Legacy
Jenny’s contributions as a pilot are more than just about flying; they’re about being part of a larger conservation effort. While there is still much to be done, this annual whale survey serves as a critical tool in monitoring these endangered animals. Jenny’s job as a pilot is at the very centre of that important mission, giving insight from the sky into the continued effort to conserve the southern right whale.
Photos by Andrew Halsall
