WHALE watching season has come early, with the first southern right whale sighting at Warrnambool's Logans Beach confirmed.
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The whale was spotted at Logans Beach around 1pm on Wednesday, May 29, moving in a westerly direction.
"Hopefully, this exciting news means the arrival of our first southern right whale calf for the season won't be too far away," a DELWP Barwon South West spokeswoman said.
"Logans Beach is the only established southern right whale nursery in south-east Australia.
"Pregnant females usually arrive at Logans Beach, disappear for a few days and then return with their calves for the remainder of the season.
"Keep your eyes on the coastline and report any whale sightings to southern.r.whales@delwp.vic.gov.au - including photos, a date, time, location, description of the whales and their behaviour, and your contact details."
Almost every year between June and September, female southern rights return to the waters of Warrnambool's Logans Beach to calve.
The whales often swim within a hundred metres of the shore and can be viewed from a constructed platform in the sand dunes or from the beach.
In summer, southern right whales live in the sub-Antarctic. In winter, they migrate to warmer waters around the southern areas of Australia.
The females migrate to the 'nursery' areas close to the shore to bear their calves, while the males, yearlings and young adults remain further out to sea.
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