Epic Journey

by Gayle Swigart

Title

Epic Journey

Artist

Gayle Swigart

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Photo

Description

This salmon has returned from a long ocean journey, to the river where its life began.

The Chinook salmon is an important keystone species of the Pacific Northwest. It is a vital food source for a diversity of wildlife, including orca whales, bears, seals and large birds of prey. Chinook salmon is also prized by people who harvest salmon both commercially and for sport.

Chinook salmon utilize many different habitats during their lives. Adults lay eggs in fast moving, freshwater streams and rivers. Juvenile salmon spend some time in the freshwater streams before moving to mixed salt and freshwater estuaries. As the salmon reach adulthood, they move out into the open ocean.

Chinook salmon live about 3-7 years. For the first year or so the juvenile salmon stays in freshwater habitat. Soon it will move to the estuaries and then the open ocean. Estuaries provide a lot of food and nutrients to the developing salmon. The fish will spend approximately 2-4 years feeding in the ocean before returning to the spawning grounds to breed and die.

The health of Chinook salmon depends entirely on your location--Alaskan stocks are considered to be healthy, while those in the Columbia River are in danger. Protection of Chinook salmon is crucial to maintain healthy Pacific Northwest ecosystems.

Uploaded

October 26th, 2012

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