By Sarah Brown, NSEA’ s Stewardship Program Coordinator
Spawning chum salmon develop a tiger stripe pattern and sharp canine teeth.
Salmon Season, November through January, is a time to recognize the importance of salmon to this region, to understand the threats they continue to face, and to celebrate those that have returned to spawn the next generation throughout Whatcom County. During this season, NSEA strives to connect the community to salmon through salmon sighting events and resources, partnerships with local businesses and organizations, and sharing what we see during habitat restoration and salmon spawning surveys.
Sammy the Salmon helps a family spot chum salmon along Chuckanut Creek.
Over the last few years, we have taken great pride in our Salmon Sighting Events where NSEA Naturalists have engaged with hundreds of people observing and learning about spawning salmon in Whatcom County. This year, due to the pandemic, we cannot safely host the same style of events, so we are piloting new virtual and on-your-own activities with our Salmon Season 2020 partners, Puget Sound Energy, the Community Food Co-op, Brandywine Kitchen, and Bellewood Farms!
A family observes spawning chum salmon at a Salmon Sighting event along Oyster Creek.
Salmon Season starts with an action-packed Salmon Month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram throughout November to learn about what we’re seeing in the field, how you can join in the fun, and which businesses are helping us celebrate!
We will highlight the five species of Pacific salmon that live in the Nooksack River watershed, the spawning salmon that we spot throughout Whatcom County, stewardship tips from Puget Sound Energy, and how you can get out and see salmon, too! You can also participate in our month-long social media contest, Eggcellent Guess, where you take a guess at how many salmon eggs have been laid in our fishbowl redd! Only your first guess will be recorded and at the end of the month, the closest wins a grand prize.
NSEA Salmon Season Activity Kit.
Our new Salmon Sighting Experience Guide is an interactive display that allows viewers to find local spawning grounds while learning about key components of the salmon life cycle and their habitat needs. Also, we have developed Salmon Season Activity Kits that include everything you need to explore local spawning habitat and play salmon sighting Bingo with your friends and family! While supplies last, these free kits are available at Bellewood Farms in Lynden and Brandywine Kitchen in Bellingham who is featuring a November special, Salmon Cakes.
We are honored to be the Community Food Co-op’s SEED program recipient this month. November 21, 2020, is Community Shopping Day where NSEA will receive 2% of the total sales. Support local and shop at the Community Food Co-op during Salmon Month!
If you have questions about Salmon Season, or are interested in picking up a Salmon Season Activity Kit, you can contact our Stewardship Program Coordinator, Sarah, at 360-312-3235 or email sbrown@n-sea.org.