Greenpeace should (also) love Strata

Never let it be said that strata owners don't care about the environment and endangered species.

We're often accused of sitting up in our ivory towers imperiously gazing on a world that is distant and detached from us.

But, ironically, it's precisely that status that has allowed Queensland apartment owners to help save the whales.

You see high rise apartments along the coastline are perfect for whale watching.  

And, I’ll bet you didn’t know that the Gold Coast's calm waters are the perfect location for Humpback Whales to rest and play during Spring before the final migration descent to the chilly oceans of Antarctica. The Gold Coast area functions similar to a bay in which the current reverses and calm water prevails. After giving birth in areas from Hervey Bay to the tropical coral coast, these bay-like functions provide a safe passage for the mothers and calves during their southern migration.

So an enterprising and clever Marine Ecologist at Griffith has set up a project where high rise residents can collect information about humpback whales when migrating up and down the Gold Coast foreshore.  The project's called Humpbacks & High Rises and it combines information collected through land, boat and aerial surveys along the Gold Coast to highlight whale abundance, distribution and behaviour. Boat surveys also support the collection of physical water properties and aerial surveys provide information on boat activities. National Geographic ‘s Crittercam is deployed for underwater tracking, noise levels are measured with hydrophones along the coast and skin biopsies are taken for genetic analyses. With additional photographs of flukes (tails) - individual life histories, social role, migration, habitat use, distribution and reproductive status are determined.

To find out more go to to www.humpbacksandhighrises.com.au and if you want participate contact Dr Olaf Meynecke from Griffith University on j.meynecke@griffith.edu.au  or by telephone on +614 2311 5503.

So, see you at the next Greenpeace-Strata Alliance march.  And thanks to Nicole Johnston at Griffith University for letting me know about this project.

Francesco ...