Autumn brings shorter days, falling leaves, and spawning salmon! Our homeschool network went on a field trip to learn about the life cycle of the salmon at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery.
We saw this bird and would like to know what it is. So far, I have had no luck in identifying it. Any bird lovers out there who can help? (Update: My Dad is the winner with “Osprey”)
We were able to watch the process of harvesting and fetilizing salmon eggs:
- The salmon in a holding pen were mildly shocked to keep them from thrashing too much
- The holding pen is raised and a man separates the males from the females.
- All the fish are clubbed and the females main artery is cut to let all the blood out.
- Once all the blood has been removed, the abdomen is split open and all the eggs are removed. A salmon makes about 5000 eggs!
- The eggs are placed in a small tub and the male salmon is “milked” over the eggs. A little river water is added and swirled around. All of the eggs are fertilized withing 20 seconds.
- This hatchery has a 98% success rate of hatching and releasing salmon.
Feeding the fish.
