Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:26 am, sunset 4:58 pm (Standard Time), for a total daylength of 8 hours and 31 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 8 seconds shorter. Warmer than normal temperatures continued with a high today in the low 40s, lows dipped to mid-30s overnight. Calm, overcast, intermittent showers. Not much change in the 10-day forecast.
A handsome male silver salmon swam from the bay into the Lagoon last week, then thrashed his way up the tiny creek paralleling Second Ave past houses and driveways. Finally, he entered First Lake in the heart of Seward. This migration is an annual event (most years) since anyone can remember, but far fewer salmon have made it to the stream and lake this fall to spawn.
On October 31, the salmon lay, exhausted and gasping in the inlet stream at the lake’s edge. Sharp teeth erupted from a fierce, curved snout. Rival salmon tooth marks and scrapes scarred his face, badges of honor marking battles fought. Golden eyes saw, what? The sky and the gravel below? Or far beyond into the past and future?
His body glowed despite the gray, rainy day, from his greenish head to his bright maroon body, spangled with black spots. What a magnificent salmon, transformed by hormones and fueled by an ancient urge to protect his genes and return home to spawn.
I checked on him the next day. He had starting giving food to the birds, though the golden eyes remained, staring dully as if still watching from a distance.
Today, I heard BALD EAGLES screeching and headed to the lake. As I approached, an adult Eagle flew from a tree and away across the lake. A BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE hopped in to scavenge. The salmon still lay near the water’s edge, but now he had given his nutrient-rich eyes, brains. and most of the organs. The muscled body that we prefer was untouched.
I headed to the opposite north shore to watch discretely. A female adult Bald Eagle had returned, dragged the salmon carcass to the beach and busily tore off chunks. She paused to look around every now and then with good cause. A hungry juvenile Eagle watching from the trees swooped down but bailed. Then a male adult Eagle made a pass to test resistance (yup!) and lurked in a nearby tree, watching intently for opportunities. The Magpie bravely landed near the diner and darted in and out for scraps as the fish fed the Eagle.
After watching the fish give and give and give, the treed Eagle dove and, gaining speed, attacked. The Magpie fled; the diner rose up tall and spread her enormous wings in defense. Undeterred, the attacker knocked her over backwards into the water. Wheeling midair, he returned at top speed, blasted past the still-recovering Eagle, snatched up the remaining salmon, and roared off with his prize.
The robbed Eagle seemed stunned. After a few moments, she took a drink from the clear stream, waded in the cold water, perhaps reflecting on the gift of the salmon and sudden loss. Then she leapt in the air and departed through the Park past the pavilion. Anyone who happened to be walking to the lake would have been startled to meet the disgruntled high-speed Eagle at eye level.
Nothing remained for the salmon to give but scraps and a stripped backbone. The Magpie thought that was just fine, and dined in peace.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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