Dave McClung
26th October 2005, 06:54 PM (18:54)
Where we live, we are always made to be aware of the "food chain." The bottom of the chain starts somewhere in the small plants and animals in the ocean. Somewhere low on the chain are herring. The are a very small fish, but live in large schools. There are millions of them. There survival is based strictly on the law of large numbers. There are so many of them that even with a lot of other kinds of fish eating them, a few survive.
They are a primary source of food for salmon. As the salmon swim through the schools of herring with their mouths open, the herring swim in all directions to try to get away. Some of them swim close to the surface.
When they do, the birds see them and dive. Some of the birds are able to actually dive down into the water, but others fish only on the surface.
Eagles can't catch herring below the surface, but have sharp enough eyes that if a herring comes to the surface, an eagle will swoop down and get it.
Today, this eagle fished the area in our "back yard." I got a few pictures.
They are a primary source of food for salmon. As the salmon swim through the schools of herring with their mouths open, the herring swim in all directions to try to get away. Some of them swim close to the surface.
When they do, the birds see them and dive. Some of the birds are able to actually dive down into the water, but others fish only on the surface.
Eagles can't catch herring below the surface, but have sharp enough eyes that if a herring comes to the surface, an eagle will swoop down and get it.
Today, this eagle fished the area in our "back yard." I got a few pictures.