Yumi and I headed out to Boundary Bay in Delta, BC, today. We parked at the end of 72nd, and walked along the dyke a couple of kilometers west of 72nd, back, and a click or so east, and back.
There were lots of Northern Harriers today, among other birds, including a short-eared owl.
I just completed a quick tally of email spawner patrol reports (I may be out a fish or two) and it looks like we’re on track for the best spawner year on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, since 2011. So far I think we have processed 28 chum and 4 coho.
It’s a bit hard to compare, because in some recent years we’ve seen many more fish than we’ve eventually found carcasses, even though we’re consistent in areas covered and frequency of patrols. (Extended periods of heavy rain can flush and/or bury carcasses.)
But in terms of comparing carcasses processed (to confirm species, size, sex, and spawning status), we’re looking good.
It also looks good in that most of the female chum found have spawned. Of the two female coho processed so far, one had spawned.
Thanks to all the volunteers going out patrolling, and let’s hope we still get some more fish!
For those curious to know, our best spawner year since fish passage was restored on Byrne Creek at the Fraser outfall about 30 years ago was just over 90 combined chum and coho in 2004.
BTW, volunteer streamkeepers process every salmon carcass found on the creek. We are able to do this because the spawning area can be traversed on foot in an hour to two hours depending on conditions and numbers of fish seen, and because the returns are so low. We do three to five patrols a week from mid-October to late December.
Six hardy souls braved the wind and rain on the Burnaby Parks-sponsored Byrne Creek salmon tour today. The water was high and dirty, and as leader of the tour, I had little hope of seeing salmon. But we persevered and were rewarded by a couple of chum cruising near the surface of the sediment pond! Thank you chum!
It was uplifting to witness the excitement of people seeing salmon in their own neighbourhood for the first time.
Thanks to Byrne Creek Streamkeepers volunteers Ray and Yumi for joining me, and thanks to the three folks who showed up for the tour despite the challenging weather. All expressed interest in potentially participating in other Byrne Creek events!
A ghostly chum in the rain, swimming up the culvert under Southridge Drive in SE Burnaby, BC
Had a good spawner patrol on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today. Volunteer streamkeepers have been tallying spawner returns here for some 15 years or more. Our best year was over 90 combined chum and coho, and this year we’re off to a pretty good start. Seven chum and one coho in this shot.
NOTE: Streamkeepers have training and permission from DFO to walk the creek, look for live salmon returning to spawn, and to collect data on carcasses. Please enjoy the sight of spawning salmon respectfully and do not enter the creek.
Whew, home after a 2-1/2-day SEHAB (Salmonid Enhancement & Habitat Advisory Board) meeting in Langley, BC.
Thanks to all the BC stewardship groups that contributed to this meeting through their volunteer SEHAB regional reps and DFO Community Advisors. And thanks to DFO staff who came to the meeting to share their insights and give suggestions on how the board can be most successful in moving issues forward.
We have put together what we feel is an excellent document of proactive, constructive advice to share with management at DFO Pacific Regional HQ in Vancouver tomorrow.
SEHAB meets three times a year in locations across British Columbia to listen to local stewardship and Salmonid Enhancement Program groups, and share their successes and concerns with senior DFO management.
I have had the privilege of serving on this volunteer board for many years, including several on the executive as secretary and chair of the Communication Committee, and am always impressed by the wealth of knowledge and experience that folks bring to the table.
Volunteer streamkeepers had a good spawner patrol on Byrne Creek in Burnaby, BC, today.
We saw 19 live chum, and processed 7 dead ones — one male and six spawned females. Yay!
Also saw two fish that were likely coho, one large, one perhaps a jack, both very shy and hiding under snags.
The photo shows three fish found in close proximity to each other. One male and two spawned females. Had to guesstimate a length for the bottom one, as some critter had been having a feast.
As we were observing a pair spawning, another chum swam right past me!
A pair of chum on a redd (nest). Shot from Meadow Ave. bridge.
NOTE: Streamkeepers have permission from Fisheries and Oceans to count spawning salmon, and to process carcasses to collect data on size, species, sex, etc. Please observe spawning salmon from a reasonable distance and do not harass them.
Chum in motion.
We’re getting good numbers of spawning salmon back in Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC. At least good for this little struggling urban waterway.
Here’s a number of shots I took today on spawner patrol. Though I’ve been volunteering as a streamkeeper for some 15 years now, I still find it cool how camouflaged these fish are.
Each one of the following photos has at least one chum in it, and some have several.
The rising submarine chum
The logger chum
The hiding in plain view chum
At least three in this shot
Blending in chum
OK, this dead one was easy to see. 52 cm male.
Hide and seek, heads hidden, tails sticking out chum
Volunteer streamkeepers are elated to see salmon coming back to spawn in Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC. If it rains, the fish start returning in mid-October, but this year we didn’t see any until nearly the end of the month.
We count live salmon and note their species and location, and when they die, we process the carcasses — species, size, sex, and for females whether or not they have spawned and their eggs are gone.
In the foreground you can see a coho female that we processed. We cut the carcasses in half after collecting data, so that we don’t count them again. We return the carcasses to the creek for they provide nutrients to the ecosystem.
Unfortunately this coho female died before spawning. We found her full of roe. This is a recurring problem on Byrne Creek. Studies in WA state have shown that runoff from roads can carry a toxic brew that is lethal to coho, with death from such exposure happening within hours.
We get so few salmon back to Byrne Creek that every one found unspawned is a small tragedy that chips away at volunteers’ spirits.
You know it’s getting colder when Choco the cat starts seeking laps to warm up in.
Now that’s how to watch TV on a cool autumn eve.
Stretched out for maximum comfort
She knows I want to get up, and a moody glare starts building in her eyes. Don’t care if ya gotta pee, Daddy, don’t move!
Photos by Yumi
