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Herring On Vancouver Island
Originally uploaded by TheRainbird
Each year herring spawns around Vancouver Island in early March. This year is no exception. Just this morning I heard that the herring were spawning near French Creek between Parksville and Qualicum Beach. this attracts tens of thousands of birds, of all kinds as well as seals, and sea lions. This is a real spectacle of whirling wildlife and avid consumption of the eggs of the herring.
In some ways it is the foundation of all the ocean life around Vancouver Island. Herring is the most populous fish in the ocean here. It has the largest biomass too. And the wildlife know this and depend on the fecundity of the herring spawn.
One of the birds that depends on it is a little sea goose called Brant, just Brant. Smaller than our familiar Canada Goose, it also sports a black head and neck. But the white patch is around the neck not under the chin. It starts arriving on the shores of the island in late February in time to feed on eel grass that is impregnated with herring roe. This is a vital food source that will sustain them on their migration to Alaska. This little goose has inspired an annual festival, the Brant Festival where there are interpretive tours, a bird-watching competition, art shows, and a number of other events spaced across March & April. http://www.brantfestival.bc.ca/index.php
Other sea birds that depend on herring roe are vast flocks, or rafts of sea-ducks like three species of Scoters, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks, Mergansers, and Goldeneyes. these rafts can contain as many as 13,000 birds. And gulls also gather from all parts of the Salish Sea (Straight of Georgia), interior island lakes and the Alberni Inlet. Enormous flocks of up to 10 species of gulls can be found loafing on the beaches and erupting into whirling masses of birds when the herring fleet goes to work.
At Deep Bay a huge flock of gulls is massed ready to prey on the herring span.
Yes, the herring fleet. Another creature that gathers to await the spawning of these fish. It is a hugely controversial fishery. Old timers tell stories about how abundant the herring were even 20 years ago! And they are disgusted to see it still happening when the abundance of the herring is a shadow of their former numbers. Yet on it goes.
Rainbird Excursions will be hosting a tour next next weekend on Saturday to see this spectacle. The Van leaves at 10:00 AM from The visitor Information centre in Port Alberni. For more, click the link below.