Underwater Video! The GREAT Canadian Fish Story (2) March 2021

Gizzard Shad Survived Harsh Winter But the Numbers are Down

"1000 Maybe 2000 Fish" are Now "100 Maybe 200 Fish"

Recent 'above-water' video reveals that it's tough being a fish

Underwater video will appear below. Brilliant : )

Introduction:

Side note: The harsh reality of winter affected my walking and running routine. I do not always like running in winter - slush is my Enemy No. 1 - plus, I developed a sore foot from hitting two hidden potholes in December, and twice rolling the same foot off the edge of the pathways in January - and more. So, I walked a lot and dusted off my recumbent exercise bike to maintain a healthy fun and fitness routine. I will come back to running once winter is behind us (soon, I predict) and the sore foot is repaired.

That being said, while walking throughout the late fall (November) and winter, I grew fascinated with a mighty fish story, i.e., the mass congregation of gizzard shad spotted in Carling Creek north of Blackfriars Bridge in London. I wrote about the "1000 Maybe 2000 Fish", took scores of photographs per week, several videos, and watched as they experienced a 'die-off' during a particular cold stretch.

But recently, a captive audience of Londoners have watched an exciting event - the GREAT Canadian Comeback of the fish. The 100 maybe 200 survivors of our cold winter have given birth to 1000s of minnows in Carling Creek and the 'captive audience' and I have been thoroughly entertained by this up-close, vibrant and natural process of regeneration. After a year of Covid-19 and some of the changes to our normal routines, perhaps this process is a watery tonic to wintery blues.

One day last week I tied my GoPro - locked inside a waterproof jacket - to a long shoelace and went fishing for underwater closeups of shad and offspring. A quick peek (22 seconds) is shared below:

More underwater video will appear in an Adobe Spark format soon.

Please link here to view earlier videos and stories (e.g., "1000 Maybe 2000 Fish") related to this ongoing, ever-changing fish saga.

Enlightening Videos - "1000 Maybe 2000 Fish": The Movie : )

Entertaining : ) Stories - The GREAT Canadian Fish Story (1) December 2020

Please click here to view very recent photos and 16-second video of my second-favourite fish story: Photographs: Lots of Walkn and Fishn in 2021

Photos and Videos GH