Tweeters,

This is not really realated to birds, except that I was watching birds
at Green Lake when I observed it.

Yesterday (24th) and today (25th) I observed next to the shore at Green
Lake, just north of where the path begins to parallel Aurora Ave., several
dozen fish. They are about 4 inches or so long and from the side they
look somewhat like a flatten disk, and uniformly silver. They were in
the reeds favored by the red-wing blackbirds. Yesterday they were quite
active and many were on their sides at the surface of the water. They
seemed to be feeding, perhaps. Today, some of the ones on their sides
at the surface looked just plain dead and others looked like they were
dying. Today there was distinct fishy smell present.

I'm wondering if these fish are doing something typical, or did they
go into the reeds to escape the mergansers and then become trapped? Or
is this the Fish's Graveyard of Green Lake? Or are they really feeding
off the reeds and just in a torporous state because of the cold. Isn't
the deeper water warmer right now?

Anyway, as I said, this isn't about birds, but I'm still curious. Martin,
did you see this yesterday on your survey?


Bob Mauritsen
rhm at ms.washington.edu