Millions will die ......
p.1 #1Millions will die ......
..... as salmon lay and fertilize their eggs during spawning in many rivers up and down the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Millions of their eggs will get washed down rivers to the ocean. Those that don't get snatched out of the river by gulls will end up being eaten by crustaceans at the bottom of the ocean.
Large numbers of salmon will be killed by bears and the fishing industry. Bears will tend to eat mostly female salmon to get to the protein-rich eggs in their bellies. Gulls will take out the eyes of the dead salmon, as their bills are not capable of ripping through the tough outer skin. Otherwise they have to feed on carcasses that have been ripped open by bears. Despite the massive numbers of salmon spawning in this stretch of the river, I did not see a single Bald Eagle.
This spawn was on the Big Qualicum River on Vancouver Island.
Large numbers of salmon will be killed by bears and the fishing industry. Bears will tend to eat mostly female salmon to get to the protein-rich eggs in their bellies. Gulls will take out the eyes of the dead salmon, as their bills are not capable of ripping through the tough outer skin. Otherwise they have to feed on carcasses that have been ripped open by bears. Despite the massive numbers of salmon spawning in this stretch of the river, I did not see a single Bald Eagle.
This spawn was on the Big Qualicum River on Vancouver Island.
Nov 14, 2025 at 09:33 PM
p.1 #2Millions will die ......
Something I have never experienced. Thanks for the info and the great pics Tony.
John
John
Nov 15, 2025 at 04:34 AM
p.1 #3Millions will die ......
Excellent documentation Tony.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/sustainable-fisheries/ecosystem-interactions-and-pacific-salmon
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/sustainable-fisheries/ecosystem-interactions-and-pacific-salmon
Nov 15, 2025 at 05:25 AM
p.1 #4Millions will die ......
Excellent documentation series Tony. We have a few rivers around here where we can see pretty much the same, around this time of year.
Very odd that you saw no eagles, usually it's a feast for them.
Very odd that you saw no eagles, usually it's a feast for them.
Nov 15, 2025 at 11:52 AM
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p.1 #5Millions will die ......
johnohio wrote:
Something I have never experienced. Thanks for the info and the great pics Tony.
John
Thanks John,
Tony
Something I have never experienced. Thanks for the info and the great pics Tony.
John
Thanks John,
Tony
Nov 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
p.1 #6Millions will die ......
bs kite wrote:
Excellent documentation Tony.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/sustainable-fisheries/ecosystem-interactions-and-pacific-salmon
Thanks Robert,
Tony
Excellent documentation Tony.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/sustainable-fisheries/ecosystem-interactions-and-pacific-salmon
Thanks Robert,
Tony
Nov 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
p.1 #7Millions will die ......
louie champan wrote:
Excellent documentation series Tony. We have a few rivers around here where we can see pretty much the same, around this time of year.
Very odd that you saw no eagles, usually it's a feast for them.
Thanks Louie.
It seems the eagles prefer the more open area at the oceanside.
Tony
Excellent documentation series Tony. We have a few rivers around here where we can see pretty much the same, around this time of year.
Very odd that you saw no eagles, usually it's a feast for them.
Thanks Louie.
It seems the eagles prefer the more open area at the oceanside.
Tony
Nov 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM