It's almost like a blue-light disco for whales, but with way more jaw slapping.
Sub-adult humpbacks have been recorded off the Gold Coast performing courtship behaviours usually seen among older generations.
While none of the whales got lucky, researchers from Griffith University said the romantic gestures provided valuable insights into the whales' emotional intelligence and how such behaviours could change from generation to generation.
Coastal and Marine Research Centre research fellow Olaf Meynecke said the whales were moving very slowly so he could tell it was about "being close to each other but being sensitive about it".
"These animals are actually learning as they grow older," Dr Meynecke said.
"So there is an aspect of cultural transmission of understanding their environment and each other through a process over time."
'Training to be romantic'
Dr Meynecke said the whales were "showing all the signs of courtship behaviour" like presenting their bellies, slowly nudging each other and slapping their jaws.
He said he used a drone at a distance to measure their size during the migration season.
"But these were all younger whales which indicated that they were basically training to be romantic whales," he said.
"It helps them build up bonds between other individuals, so they get to know each other, and they will see each other over coming years.
"It's creating an reaction from another whale, a positive one."
Dr Meynecke said the footage also helped researchers understand how behaviours formed over time.
"So when we are then extrapolating impacts of climate change or shifts in environmental factors, we need to remember that these animals are constantly learning," he said.
"It means we can't assume that one cohort, one age class of whales or teenagers, are going to behave the same in coming years.
"They might adapt to changes quite rapidly."
Dolphins not as 'annoying'
Dr Meynecke said whales would repeatedly see each other over their lifetimes with indications they were seeking out "positive emotions".
"We know there is a connection," he said.
"They experience joy, they experience pain."
He said whales reacted to dolphins seen swimming or "charging" towards their heads.
"[The dolphins] like to be seen, in eyesight of the whale, and then just keep coming back," Dr Meyncke said.
"There was this myth, we thought dolphins were actually annoying the whales but that's not the case.
"We've seen whales actively following dolphins and playing with them."
Dr Meynecke said sub-adult whales were currently preparing for the arrival of adults into Gold Coast waters.
"Will they actually leave as early as they did last year?" he said.
"So about mid-October things were really quiet [last year]. I suspect this may be the case this year."
