I stopped by a river to get a shot of a sunset. I forgot the sunset when
I saw the Chinook Salmon spawning so close to shore. These Salmon always
return to their place of birth to spawn and this poor hen was banged up
from her trecherous journey from the Pacific Ocean to this spot 100 miles
up the Umpqua river in Douglas County Oregon. Chinook Salmon die after
they spawn. This graceful lady has finished her life's task. Her eggs
are buried in a gravel nest beneath her, the male has fertilized them
and gone his own way... and she is waiting to die.
I love the mosaic look caused by the water movement.
