Monday, October 12, 2009

Something Fishy

We ventured to the other side of Sacramento today to tour the Nimbus Fish Hatchery with some of our homeschooling friends. They are responsible for growing Salmon and Steelhead Trout. We learned some interesting facts:

1. Female Salmon can have as many as 5,000 eggs in them!

2. Salmon live in both fresh water and salt water.

3. They can swim at speeds up to 30 mph!

4. Salmon can leap 10 foot waterfalls!

5. Salmon swim 2,000 miles against the current to their spawning beds in some rivers! Imagine swimming that far just to die.

Unfortunately, the temperatures are not yet cool enough for the Salmon to spawn, so the run was not in operation. However, we plan to return in November when conditions are right.

Magnus was swallowed by a Trout!

Thane sitting inside an egg. He keeps thinking that since they are eggs, that the fish hatch out of them like birds. Not sure how he is going to feel when he finds out he is from an egg too!

Thane, Tamir, Ameer, and Magnus

The boys were able to feed the fish too. The Trout would go crazy when the boys threw the food in.




There was also a huge Salmon sculpture for them to climb on...



This is their re-enactment of the eggs spewing from the sides of the Salmon as the side was cut open. Leave it up to boys!

No comments: