2 May Photos: Snack Time at the Hatchery

Each day hatchery workers check the ponds for salmon fry that have died (morts). Typically there are a handfull out of the thousands of fish in each pond. The morts are dumped into a pipe that flushes out to the shore where birds, especially eagles, wait for a chance at a bite to eat.

[Show slideshow]

Salmon fry regularly die and are flushed out to the ocean by hatchery workers. Eagles consider this a feeding opportunity.

Things the size of salmon fry eagles can apparently eat on the wing.

I guess this would not work so well if there were obstacles to avoid.

The eagle and crow are waiting for more fry. When the tide is out, the crows have a better chance.

The eagle is grabbing the fry from the water just after it spilled out.

The fry slipped out of the eagle's grasp.