Off the coast of Western Australia, a humpback whale is performing what looks like an underwater ballet. It is “pirouetting,” sweeping its massive pectoral fins through the water with a jaw hanging wide open, surrounded by its companions. To a casual observer, it looks like a missed meal; to marine biologists, it is a rare glimpse into a behavioral mystery known as “gaping.”
This behavior, captured in high-definition by onlookers and shared across social media, is becoming the center of a new scientific inquiry. As autumn chills Australia’s coasts, the ocean transforms into a bustling humpback highway. Every May, these mammals begin their annual trek from the frigid Antarctic waters to the warmer breeding grounds of Queensland, northern New South Wales and the Ningaloo coast to the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
While the migration itself is a well-documented spectacle, the “gaping” behavior remains an enigma. A recent study from Macquarie University has leveraged the power of citizen science to analyze footage of 66 humpbacks, suggesting that this jaw-dropping display is not about hunger, but about social connection. For those of us who track the intersection of technology and nature, it is a fascinating example of how unstructured data—in the form of viral clips—is filling critical gaps in marine biology.
“Just when we think we know a lot about humpback whales, we don’t,” says Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, a renowned Australian whale scientist and co-author of the paper. Pirotta notes that tourism operators and citizen scientists, who spend thousands of hours on the water, have become a primary resource for capturing behaviors that traditional research vessels might miss.
Decoding the ‘Gape’: Social Signal or Physical Stretch?
To understand why gaping is so unusual, one must first understand how a humpback typically eats. Dr. Olaf Meynecke, a veteran researcher currently surveying marine life via the CSIRO research vessel Investigator, explains that baleen whales are masters of the “lunge.”
In a standard feeding event, whales coordinate to create rings of bubbles, trapping fish or krill in a concentrated column. The whale then accelerates from the depths, lunging upward with a wide-open mouth to engulf a massive volume of water and prey. This process involves immense speed, force, and a dramatic expansion of the throat pleats.
Gaping is different. Documented primarily in breeding grounds and migratory routes where whales are often fasting and relying on fat reserves, gaping lacks the acceleration and the throat expansion of a feed. The mouth simply hangs open, sometimes above the surface and sometimes below, without the intent to capture prey.
| Feature | Lunge Feeding | Gaping Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Prey capture (Krill/Fish) | Social signaling/Play/Stretching |
| Physicality | High acceleration & throat expansion | Passive open jaw, slow movement |
| Context | Feeding grounds (Antarctic) | Migratory routes & breeding grounds |
| Energy State | Active foraging | Often fasting (using fat reserves) |
Researchers believe the behavior could serve several purposes: a form of social signaling, a way for calves to stretch their jaws before they begin feeding, or simply a manifestation of play. “It was so unusual to see this happen,” Pirotta says. “And when I heard the commentary of people watching it, I knew it was rare.”
The Rise of the Citizen Scientist
The Macquarie University study underscores a shifting paradigm in wildlife research. Due to funding constraints, traditional scientific monitoring is often limited. The “main drivers” of whale tracking in Australia are now often the people paying for the boat tours.
Katie Trepess, managing director of Whale Tales Whale Watching in Sydney, has observed an increase in inquisitive behaviors, such as “spyhopping”—where whales lift their heads out of the water to observe humans on board. These interactions provide a wealth of data that, when aggregated, allow scientists to identify patterns that were previously invisible.
However, this proximity comes with a cost. As whales migrate closer to the shore to navigate their routes, the risk of human-wildlife conflict increases. The Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (Orrca) reports that the current season has already been taxing for rescue crews. Following 19 strandings and 28 entanglements across New South Wales in 2025, Orrca saw a 93% spike in hotline calls during March alone.
Navigating a Vulnerable Migration
The journey from the Antarctic to the tropics is one of nature’s greatest migrations, but it is also one of its most perilous. Ashley Ryan, president of Orrca, warns that increased coastal activity heightens the risk of vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements. “We’re already seeing increased whale activity along our coastline and that means increased risk,” Ryan says.
To mitigate these risks, authorities have implemented strict distance regulations. For those hoping to spot a “gape” or a breach, the following rules apply to ensure the animals’ safety:
- General Vessels, Surfboards, and Drones: Must maintain a minimum distance of 100 metres.
- Jetskis or Calves present: The minimum distance extends to 300 metres.
For land-based observers in New South Wales, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) recommends several vantage points. In the Sydney region, Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park and the North Head and South Head trails in Sydney Harbour National Park are prime locations. Further north, Cape Byron Lighthouse and the Tomaree Head Summit walk offer expansive views of the migratory highway.
As climate change alters sea ice patterns and pollution continues to impact ocean health, continuous monitoring of these mammals is no longer just a matter of curiosity—it is a necessity for their survival.
The next major milestone for researchers and conservationists will be Orrca’s annual whale census on June 28, which will provide updated data on population trends and the health of the migrating pods.
Do you have sightings or footage of unusual whale behavior? Share your experiences in the comments or tag us in your posts.
