Western Australia’s humpback sightings fell 60%; days later, weakened Southern Ocean seabirds appeared thousands of kilometres away on the country’s east coast

Something unusual may be unfolding in the Southern Ocean. In late June, whale watchers in southwest Western Australia reported a sharp drop in humpback whale sightings, around 60% below normal, just when the whales should have been migrating north to calve and feed. A week later, birdwatchers on Australia’s east coast began spotting rare albatrosses and petrels far from their usual Southern Ocean feeding grounds, with many of the birds appearing weak or in poor condition, according to a report by Phys.org.

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