Anchovies Are Falling From The Sky In California?
An enormous number of dead anchovies suddenly appeared on the shores of Northern California's Bolinas Lagoon.
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It’s a bird!? It’s a plane!? It’s anchovies falling from the sky!? Well, not quite, but great swaths of the tiny fish did mysteriously wash ashore dead in one of Northern California’s lagoons. And no one is sure as to exactly why.
The shores of the Bolinas Lagoon in Marin County, California looked as though they had been painted silver. The silver hue is emanating from the enormous number of dead anchovies that had washed up on the lagoon’s shores. Marin County Parks Dir. Max Korten commented on the occurrence. “This is just one of those times where we kind of get to see just the sheer number of the size of these schools of fish,” said Korten.
Right now, it is unclear what caused all of these anchovies to perish. However, researchers have a probable theory. Researchers are hypothesizing that the enormous school of anchovies was likely swimming near the mouth of the Bolinas Lagoon when they encountered a hungry predator. These fish are prey for numerous predators including seabirds, various species of larger fish, and sharks. The predator likely pushed the school of anchovies further into the shallower waters of the lagoon. Because of the sheer size of the anchovy school, there was likely an insufficient amount of oxygen to sustain the collective of fish. Without enough oxygen underwater, the fish likely suffocated to death and subsequently washed ashore.
Researcher Jim Ervin offered a different theory as to why these anchovies suffered untimely fates. Ervin, who spent his career at San Jose’s Environmental Services department and now volunteers for UC Davis’ Otolith Geochemistry and Fish Ecology Lab, thinks that the anchovies were simply looking for food. Ervin explained that this year’s La Niña weather pattern has created an abundance of food and has also cooled the waters enough to attract foraging fish like anchovies to lagoons like Bolinas. Thus, Ervin is speculating that the anchovies got overzealous and essentially inadvertently sealed their own fates.
Ervin went on to explain that as a result of the current anchovy boom, seabirds are having an absolute field day. Ervin said that, in fact, they are feasting so much that in some cases they are throwing up their food because they literally cannot fit anymore in their stomachs. “People might not want to visualize this, but I think they’re barfing, I think they’re flying over, just can’t take it anymore, gotta release. I would imagine,” detailed Ervin.
Regardless of the cause of the great anchovies fatality in Northern California, it seems to be related to the natural ebbs and flows of marine patterns. Considering that news like this is often accompanied by alarming new environmental concerns, it is somewhat of a relief to know that that is not likely the case here. And it certainly is great news for the birds in the area who have been feasting like royalty.
For those wanted to take a look at the anchovies lining the shores of the Bolinas Lagoon, Korten has some words of warning. He explained that the marine population in the area is fragile and care should be taken not to disrupt the animals in their natural habitat. “We just asked if anybody goes near there, just use caution and not to disturb the animals, the seals and things that make their home there,” said Korten.
