On Vancouver Island, in the Pacific Northwest, this time of year brings not only a change of colour and the falling of leaves, but also the Salmon spawn on the Little Qualicum River. Already, most of the salmon have spawned and thousands upon thousands of dead salmon are on the banks of the river, submerged at the bottom of the river, or have floated downstream and into the ocean.

A large number of salmon eggs also get carried down into the ocean. This spectacle brings all types of wildlife in to feed on the live and dead salmon, as well as the eggs.

I don't know my fish very well, but I think these are either Chum Salmon or Coho Salmon.

1 - 3 of 12

#1 - The estuary where the river meets the ocean.
#2 - Still alive, with only a day or two yet to live.
#3 - Trying to get by the closed gates further up river at the hatchery.

#4 - Dead salmon in the hatchery area.
#5 - Still alive, with the body rapidly decomposing.
#6 - Within minutes of dying, gulls feed on their eyes. The fish scales are too tough for gulls to penetrate, so they can only hope that an eagle will pierce the scales for them.

#7 - Sea-lions gather at the river mouth and go up the river as far as they can at high tide.
#8 - Seals cruising back down the river.
#9 - Return of the Bald Eagles.

Oh I like that last one Tony, something to show kids at bedtime. Good job on this set. Sorry I didn't wait long enough. I meant #6. The rest of the set is awesome as well.

Rob

#10 - 12 - Gulls and Common Mergansers feed on both the eggs and salmon scraps.

Wonderful captures of this cycle of nature. I think that number 1, 2, 7 and 9 are stunning. 4, 5 and 6 will I'm sure not be to the liking of some, but I find them an integral part of nature and very well taken and presented. Well done!
Larry

Outstanding Tony Fantastic work my friend and if you try harder you too could enter photo competitions LMAO Great Job Tony. Ed

Nice series Tony, outstanding

alan

The first is very pretty. 7, 9 and 10 are beauties Tony.

Morris

Your photography is always excellent Tony, and now I see that you're a very fine documenter as well.
This is both a fascinating and informative post in seeing the cycle of nature continue.
Excellent work, thanks so much for sharing this.
BTW, love the back lit Gull in #10... very well done.

Kirk

cool documentation of the circle of life. i like the clarity of the water and the ripples on #2. interesting fleshy textures on the rotting fish. nice work on the merganser bif.

- hung

Spooky dead fish skeleton! Cool stuff. Sounds like an awesome place to take it all in. Nice series Tony.

Terrific series Tony. Excellent work as always.
dan

Tony,
Great photos and documentary

Tim

Great pics Tony with a very educational and interesting narrative. Top pics are # 9 of the BE, # 6 for its starkness and impact and # 10 of the GIF.
Martin

Your story is a little fishy, Tony

Glad to see that your eagles are back and love that wing forward pose on the 2nd gull and sweet flyby of the mergansers.

Ken

That's something else!

Very nice series Tony, well done

Dick.

Very nice series Tony!

JayT

What a cool series Tony - great text and pics - #3 FIF (Fish in Flight) - don't see that too often. They all are great, but surprisingly I like the gulls the best. Funny how an exquisite presentation can make even the most common bird a fav.

Rob Tillyer wrote:
Oh I like that last one Tony, something to show kids at bedtime. Good job on this set. Sorry I didn't wait long enough. I meant #6. The rest of the set is awesome as well.

Rob

Thanks, Rob.

Tony