A couple of weeks ago, after physio, we ran a few errands and then headed for Harrison Park to see if we could see some salmon. The salmon migration is triggered by shorter daylight hours, so in late August the mature salmon start congregating at the river mouth where they started their life's journey. The first thing they have to survive is the big Salmon Derby where dozens of fishermen trey to catch the biggest salmon off the Owen Sound harbour.
Salmon that make it this far (looking downstream) have also tackled the fish ladder at the bottom of the mill pond, the first one of its kind in the province, built nearly 50 years ago. Here the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association takes a few salmon to get the eggs for their salmon-rearing program. They release about 500,000 tiny salmon each spring.
Looking upstream, there is a little over 2 km. of river before the salmon bump into the insurmountable obstacle of Inglis Falls. The entire stretch, as well as the area around the falls, is owned by the Conservation Authority and has been improved to create suitable places for salmon spawning.
You could stand on either side of the bridge and see about a dozen salmon either swimming up or resting in the eddies before tackling the next stretch. These two have just swum through that small rapids. You should try swimming against a strong current and see if you`re as strong as a salmon!
Some of the salmon appeared to be swirling in the gravel laying eggs.
A fair number of the salmon will turn off here into tiny Weaver Creek where the Sportsmen`s Association has created a number of shallow spawning beds.
And a rainbow captured by Mrs. F.G. the evening before.
Hope you`ve got enough leftovers for today!
Great pictures of spawning salmon, and wow to those great rainbow shots! :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful rainbow, compliments to Mrs. F.G. All salmon have a tough go of it when they try to spawn -- and then they die.
ReplyDeletethe rainbow is so pretty. not a fan of salmon, but the pictures are nice!!
ReplyDeleteLife for so many out there in the water, forest, sea or elsewhere. The strength to survive, to make sure another generation comes along, our daughter commented on the phone yesterday that the mother duck out where her horse is, began the month with many tiny ducklings, now just 3 are still there, hawks and rodents also have to eat to live.love the rainbow, and the salmon in the swirling water, colours dappled, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSalmon are truly a model for determination, fortitude, endurance, and tenacity.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Love that rainbow.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favourite photos from Newfoundland show the salmon jumping the rapids to get upstream to spawn.
That would be so fascinating to see. I have never seen such a migration. I watch the birds and butterflies migrating but never fish.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting about the Salmon. They sure are determined!!
ReplyDeleteThe rainbow is beautiful.
I never realized that Salmon spawned in that section of Ontario.
ReplyDeleteSad they are ending their lives to create their Heritage.
Mrs. FG is really becoming quite the photographer.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
A rainbow!
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, I'm glad they are helping them as a species, but too bad they need to.
Beautiful rainbow!
ReplyDelete