Eels
Since I first arrived in Owhiro Bay I've volunteered on Wednesdays with Jess and Jude down at the stream that runs behind the school. Even after starting work, I still try to make Wednesdays if I have the day off.
After the big earthquake two years ago, something shifted in the landfills up the watershed and all that bad juju (ammonia, heavy metals etc.) in the runoff killed wildlife in the stream. Huge eels washed up dead. Now that it's been a few years, the eels are back. There are some really big ones now, hanging in the pools that run by our restoration site.
After the big earthquake two years ago, something shifted in the landfills up the watershed and all that bad juju (ammonia, heavy metals etc.) in the runoff killed wildlife in the stream. Huge eels washed up dead. Now that it's been a few years, the eels are back. There are some really big ones now, hanging in the pools that run by our restoration site.
These are long finned eels and they live in the stream for 30-80 years before migrating out to sea to somewhere near Tonga, to breed and die in deep ocean trenches. Their offspring, called glass eels, then migrate back to the same New Zealand streams.
Like a cross between a salmon and a lamprey...
I love hanging out with these two dedicated kiwi women. They always bring some coffee and we share around some treats for morning tea.
Jude and Jess
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