Fauntleroy Creek salmon watchers welcome school of students

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife

From Judy Pickens of the Fauntleroy Watershed Council:

(Photo by Tom Trulin: Volunteer Rich Rosenthal kept groups moving among 5 learning stations along the spawning reach)

Salmon watchers on Fauntleroy Creek haven’t yet seen coho spawners but on Monday morning (10/21), several of them saw a large school of kindergarteners. The 52 students and more than a dozen adults from St. Francis of Assisi School in Burien came to learn about salmon and their habitat. Volunteer watchers engaged groups of students in talking about why spawners bury their eggs, how their carcasses enrich the habitat, and related topics.

If and when spawners arrive, we’ll announce a weekend “open creek” for the general public here.

Mr Henry October 23, 2024 (7:49 pm)

Question. Why are there so many salmon jumping out of the water off Alki Anchor Park? It has been going on for about a week.

Candice October 23, 2024 (9:51 pm)

I second this question! Saw them jumping all evening tonight and have been wondering why? Would appreciate anyone who knows sharing!

Judy P. October 24, 2024 (9:03 am)

If you Google why salmon jump out of the water, A.I. will show you a list of reasons, some more speculative than others. Getting rid of parasites (esp. sea lice) seems to dominate. I also wonder if predation could be at play; I would jump, too, if a sea lion was on the hunt below the surface.

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