Chum Fry Hatching Out in Byrne Ck, Heron Greets Them

I patrolled Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today looking for salmon fry. I spotted coho a couple of weeks ago, and today there were schools of wee chum salmon out and about.

It’s great to see them! Now we know that both coho and chum salmon successfully spawned in this urban creek, and that their progeny are appearing.

chum fry byrne creek burnaby
Shot from the upstream side of the Meadow Ave. bridge

chum fry byrne creek burnaby
A few meters d/s of the wooden footbridge in the ravine.
My wife has since pointed out that these are likely a mix of coho and chum, since several have orange tails and large parr marks.

chum fry Byrne Creek Burnaby

heron byrne creek burnaby
As I entered the spawning habitat this heron spooked from the overflow pond, and landed in a tree overlooking the sediment pond

heron byrne creek burnaby
I’m certain it’s been chowing down on chum fry! But that’s nature…

heron byrne creek burnaby
Giving me the “get out and leave me alone” look