(229/366) Falling Light in the Forest

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August 16, 2012 – Day two at the Kitimat River Hatchery and a Chinook egg take was on the schedule. It was fun to get Jeff and Kaarina in the ponds with the fish and see them learn about catching the big fish bare handed, how to check for ripeness, and how to manhandle them around either over the crowding fence or into the anaesthetic tank. They grow pretty big fish up here and they fight back. I have nothing but admiration for the staff that work at the enhancement facilities, it’s hard work, and it was great to see the two of them get a small taste of what the staff does on a regular basis.

The hatchery sits between a bit of forest and the Kitimat River, and all over the site, in shady corners, were thousands of little tiny toads, each no bigger than a thumbnail. The hatchery staff tells us they call it the annual toad migration, and several staff set out with buckets over the course of the day to rescue those that were sure to be stepped on, or had become trapped in the ponds or in hot dry areas. When we walked down tot he river, the tiny toadlets were everywhere. If you stood still and just looked at one spot, your peripheral vision would pick up movement everywhere. It was hard to walk near the water for effort of not stepping on any. I stood still for a few minutes taking some photos of the spawning salmon and I watched three hop under the curve of my shoes. When I stepped carefully away they looked surprised to be back in the bright hot sun.

After hours, the three of us went for dinner in Kitimaat Village – the Haisla Village just outside of the city of Kitimat. A seafood restaurant had been recommended and the setting was fabulous. Right on the waters edge, and the evening sun set the ripples on the water to glittering. Dinner of halibut stuffed with crab was definitely great, though I also have to say the fresh seafood lasagna we had last night at Rosario’s was pretty tasty too.

We decided to go for a walk in the woods along Hirsch Creek, and the falling sun lit the moss and lichen covered trees of the forest up in a fabulous way. We watched some of the many chum salmon spawning in the river, and we didn’t encounter the bear that left fresh evidence along the trail.

We are planning on visiting some habitat restoration projects along the way to Terrace tomorrow, before we fly out for home. We were lucky with the weather up here, what a fantastic few days we’ve had.