Counting Done for Another Year



Mom and her cygnets - by Betsey Godley



The newest members of the Mill Pond family - by Betsey Godley



The new family - by Bob Parsons

Well, we've decided to call it a day for another year!  The last few days have had almost no fish come up the ladders.  We thought that maybe the warmer weather would bring a resurgence, but it didn't happen.  We've had another tremendously successful year.  We're almost as surprised this year as we were last year.  We were not expecting this huge amount of fish to pass through, so we were pleasantly surprised! 

We sincerely want to thank everyone who helped again this year to document the passage of the fish.  We can't do this without your help, so we are truly grateful.  It doesn't matter if you counted once a day, once a week, or once during the entire run; every count mattered! We know that it's not always a pleasant experience, with the weather and the swans not always cooperating.  But at least the swans had a happy ending!!!

So, until next year - Have a happy summer.

And we will be posting all of the counting results here for everyone to see, so keep an eye on the lookout!!

8000+ and Counting!

 As of Friday, fish were still observed for every single 10 minute count!  Not always a lot of fish, as the total for the day was 72, but still....herring jumping every hour!  We've now recorded nominally 90% of the total number of fish that were observed in the peak year - 2012.  The weather forecast for early next week looks like it should be good for seeing more fish.

See the latest report here.

Take Mom to see the Herring!

At Day 39, we are steady and closing in on 8000 fish observations.   So far, we are running at double the average count for the previous 7 years, with only 2012 reporting higher figures.  See the latest report here.  Red numbers in this year's count mean the reports from counters are not yet fully received and logged.

We've just now dropped to double digit daily counts, after 3-1/2 weeks of mostly triple digit daily counts.  So, are we close to the end?  Look at the 2012 data - 2012 dropped to double digit counts also at Day 39, and yet the run continued for another 2-1/2 weeks, with several hundred additional fish reported over that period.  We likely have the bluebacks running now, which are the second wave, after the alewives.  If you're on either Middle Pond or Mystic Lake now, you'll likely see some herring that have made the full 2-1/2 mile trip up the river.

We'll continue the count until we have two consecutive days of zero observations.

So take Mom out to the run and enjoy the start of summer!

Counters needed!!!

It looks like this count is still going strong and we have a lot of empty slots coming up next week.  So please feel free to continue signing up!!  Thank you all so much for your help so far.  We are so pleased with the response we've been getting from all of you! 

Day 35 - 7000 fish +/-....Same as the 2012 Record Year at Day 35!

We're seeing a different sort of run for 2013 than we have for the previous seven years for which we have detailed records.  Except for half a dozen days with double or single digit counts since the run really got going on Day 8, we are consistently seeing triple digit daily counts.  Unlike last year, with a massive number (1453 fish observed over 90 minutes!) on one day, we seem to consistently observe a sustained and robust daily figure.  As of Day 35, we are at nominally 7000 fish, which is right where we were at Day 35 of the 2012 run!   

See the latest report here.  Red numbers in this year's count mean the reports from counters are not yet fully received and logged. 

Take a close look and compare the data for 2012 and 2013 through Day 35.  It's two very different patterns, but we're at the same number of fish observations! 

Last year's run went for 58 days.  This year's run seemed to more mirror the 2008 run to start, but the daily trends over the last two weeks are very different.

The bottom line is that we need to keep counting to help better our understanding of these herring migrations.  No trend just yet of an end to this year's run!  So please help us with your very helpful counts, enjoy the pond, take a break from any daily stress, and welcome summer all in 10 minutes!

Our "friendly" swan?

Many of you may have noticed our "friendly" companion down at the run.  He is always alert as to what we are doing in "his" backyard.  While we have no reports of him actually attacking or being of any real menace to anyone, he does like to hiss and swim back and forth while we are counting.  Our theory is that his mate is on the nest and he is being very protective of his family.  He will attack if provoked!  Swans are not known for their gentle natures.  They are actually very aggressive birds and are very powerful as well.  I remember someone telling me once that he was out fishing on a pond and got too close to an adult swan with her cygnets.  The Mom actually came after him and dented his aluminum boat!!  So, just beware!  If you feel uncomfortable at any time, please just back away and give him some space!  And thanks Betsey for another great photo!

2013 Run Moves into Second Place on Day 30!

We've done it - blew by the great 2008 run, with well over 400 fish today and a couple of count reports remaining!  We also have a new Leaderboard single 10 minute count for 2013....

178 Fish in 10 minutes this afternoon!

Dare we consider the possibility of a challenge to the first place 2012 run?  That run went on and on for 58 days, although we suspended counting for 10 of those days as the weather turned sharply cooler after the initial count, with no fish observed.  They then came back with a vengeance!  Read the 2012 blog entries for the great memories and videos!

See the latest report here.

We can beat the 2008 run!

We've had another good day after a slow a.m. start, with another single 10 minute count exceeding 100 fish!  Today's report will exceed 300 fish after we've received all the counts.  Only 350+ to go to move into second place for an annual run!  See the latest report here.

Assuming we're trending somewhat similar to the 2008 run, we've got another week or so of activity.  We still have openings for available counts, particularly coming into the weekend, so if you haven't counted yet, you still have a chance!  Please see available slots here.

4600+ and Counting!

Wow, nearly 700 fish observed when adjusted for the official 90 minutes of counting, even with slow mornings this weekend!  We continue to have occasional triple digit counts for some 10 minute intervals.

At this rate, and with a promising weather forecast, we have a good shot at displacing 2008 for the second biggest count in recent years!  600 or more fish observed would do it!

See the updated comparison here.

The birds!!!!

You pick up the paper and you always see the birds at the herring run in Brewster, but thanks to one of our counters, Betsey Godley, we now have our own photo of the Herring Gull with his namesake! And at our very own Mill Pond in Marstons Mills!  Thanks Betsey!

4000+ Fish and Counting!

We seem to have a serious run again this year!  We've had triple digit counts for most of the last two weeks, with still respectable counts even on the cooler days earlier this week.  The highest daily totals were last Thurs and Friday.  Unfortunately we had several missed counts on the peak day, so the calculated total may not truly reflect what has happened.  However, we've had some big numbers each of the last three days, with a single 10 minute count exceeding 100 fish today!

So clearly we're not at the end. 

This year's count looks like it's settling in on the third highest count over the last eight years, with 2012 being the highest annual count, and 2008 the second highest.  However, based on the last three days (nominally 800 fish!) perhaps we can break into second place!  We'd need to observe more than 1200 more fish....

See the year to year comparisons here.

So What do the Herring Eat?

We don't fully understand how the herring know when and where to go each year.  However, when they get to Middle Pond and Mystic Lake, they are obviously tired and hungry.

So what are they eating this time of year?

Zooplankton!  More specifically, a type of copepod.  Here's a microscope picture of an actual copepod currently living in Mystic Lake.  

Microcyclops Rubellus

Two days of 300+ fish in 90 Minutes!

We seem to be at the peak of the 2013 run this week.  Wednesday, 4/17, and Saturday, 4/20 both have counts exceeding 300 fish, with a couple of counts still not yet reported.  Friday, 4/19 is also nearly 300 fish for an adjusted 90 minute count.

We also have blown past the previous third best year of the last seven with more than 2000 fish counted to date, three weeks into the annual migration.  See the Year to Year comparison posted here.  Numbers shown in Red on the log indicate that some count reports have not yet been received.

Today is the end of week 3 of the run.  Most migrations last 4-5 weeks, so if you have not counted yet, or would like to count again, now's the time to contact us for that last chance!  The schedule for open counting slots is posted here.

With lots of fish showing up at Mill Pond over the last couple of days, the flume at the entrance to Middle Pond is full of fish.  Stop by and take a look soon, as they march into the ponds!

Middle Pond Flume - 4/21/13

Middle Pond Flume - 4/21/13

 
Several counters have reported the run "boiling" with fish at some hours.  I also saw an osprey carrying a herring, but was still counting, so didn't get a picture.  He was gone by the time I finished my count.

Please send us photos if you get a chance, and we'll post them for all to see!

Triple Digit 10 Minute Counts!

Yesterday, April 17, saw beautiful weather and two triple digit 10 minute counts in mid-afternoon!  We've blown well past the 1000 fish count and seem to be in the thick of the run now.  Our new leaderboard count is

172 Fish in 10 minutes!

What is it like to try to count this many fish?  Yesterday's counter, Ruth, recorded some of the action and posted it on YouTube to share with those of us who haven't yet seen the biggest part of the run.

Here it is :



Several of us have seen the big bird who is also interested in all the goings on.

Photo courtesy counter BG

2013 Leaderboard Fish Count Set Today!

While we haven't set a new high daily count for the 2013 run, we did set a new 10 minute high count of 89 fish!  This counter had also counted earlier in the morning, with a single digit count.  What a difference four hours can make!

We'll continue to post the Leaderboard results as they change going forward to keep it interesting. 

2013 Leaderboard - 89 Fish

The Year to Year totals are updated as well - a red number means the daily reports are not yet completely in.  Today's incomplete total shows just under 1000 fish, and this is with all counts to date adjusted as needed to follow the state protocols.

Keep them coming!

The Long Awaited Year to Year Comparisons!

Well, we are now two weeks into our 2013 count.  With the cooler weather, the run has cooled off a bit, so we're taking the time to update our database.  We were not as prompt in our preparations as the herring were in starting the run.  Anyhow, we've now updated our comparisons to previous years for interest.  The Year to Year Comparisons are located on the Home Screen Link, which is here.

While we have a good start, officially the daily numbers are not as high as previously reported....

Why is that?

In the enthusiasm of the count over the last week, we've had lots of volunteers filling all twelve slots.  When we actually do 12 counts/day, we have to discount them slightly to better follow the state statistical model.  We ideally have three slots filled in every 4 hour window to maintain a 2 way, 3 period, stratified random sample.  Wow - sure sounds like a lot of statistical mumbo jumbo!  It is a bit; however, the state experts have verified that this model will help them better project the actual numbers that pass through our run, since there are also herring that run outside the 12 hour window that we are tracking, as well as the other 50 minutes in each hour.  So by randomly getting 9 counts in 12 hours, with the missed hours being sprinkled throughout the day, not just at the beginning or end of the day, it is more likely that our 90 minutes of daily counts (nine 10 minute counts) will extrapolate to a reasonably accurate projection of a "true" daily count, since we don't have the resources to count continuously.

So while the peak daily count reported on April 10 was for more than 300 fish, that was for 12 intervals, or 120 minutes of counts, so it has been adjusted to 237 fish to reflect 90 minutes of statistical counts.

By properly tracking these adjustments, the state will then extrapolate our 90 minutes of daily data for a complete daily count.

Are there any budding scientists out there who want to learn more?  Drop us a comment and we'll share the state protocol with you, so that you can help calculate the "real" numbers of herring!

They're still coming!

We had a great start to the week with such beautiful weather and now winter is back!  But, on Tuesday we had 214 fish come through, on Wednesday we had 316 and on Thursday we had 263 counted.  So we are really close to that 1000 mark (we're at 990 right now!!!)  Hopefully, after today, the weather will brighten up and warm up and they'll come back in full force.  There are still quite a lot of fish in the river!
Thank you so much to all of the counters!  You are all doing a wonderful job!

Another great day!

We had another great day today, both weather wise and herring wise!  We finished the day with counting 214 fish and yesterday we counted 131 fish going over the board!

It's supposed to get cold again, so I hope we can keep up the momentum with these guys!!

Finally!!!

We had a super day today with fish.  As soon as the weather warmed up a little, the fish showed up!  We had double digits all afternoon!  We counted 103 fish today and that's not even the final total!!  So thank you for putting up with the zero counts all weekend and the really cold wind blowing yesterday.  Let's hope this keeps up!  Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer than today so keep your fingers crossed...

Remember, if you take any pictures you would like to share, feel free to send them along and we'll put them on the blog!!

And we're trying again...

So, even though the temperatures have been quite low, every day we have been seeing fish coming through.  There haven't been a lot of fish, but we had 3 at 5:00 yesterday and 2 more at 6:00.  So, we're going to go for it!  Please check the calendar everyone!!!  There are a lot of open hours available so let's try to fill in that schedule!!  Dress warmly and be prepared for a lot of zero counts until the weather warms up a little!!

They were here!!!

Well, the fish were here, very briefly.  And then the weather turned.  So, we counted today and got all zero counts.  So, we went up to the flume at Middle Pond, and there they all were!!

 

 

We didn't notice any other fish coming through and the water temps were very low, so we're going to suspend the count for now and keep our eyes open for more fish to come through.  It has to warm up eventually!!

 

 

 

You can see that there were plenty of fish!

 

 

 



Are they here? Or not...

Well, we received news today that there were fish in the run!!  So, we went down to check it out and there were indeed about 20-25 fish.  But, and this is a big BUT, the temperature is supposed to plummet tonight and be cold for the next few days.  So, we will count today and tomorrow and see what happens.  If last year was any indication, the run will stop again until it warms up again.  So, we will keep you posted!

So When Do We Expect the Herring Run to Start?

At the kickoff meeting this week, that was the primary question.  If only a herring was at the meeting....

The herring will start the run when the water temperatures reach nominally 51F.  It's much cooler for 2013 than it was at this time in 2012.  For a comparison, please take a look at the Saltwater Temperatures in Cotuit Bay and at Eel Pond (Waquoit Bay) located here.

While the herring that will migrate up the Marstons Mills River all come through Cotuit Bay and Prince Cove, we have seen that the water temperatures are warmer at the temperature sensor in Cotuit, since that sensor is further from the cooler tidal inlet.  The temperature sensor at the entrance to Eel Pond is directly at the inlet, so the variations in temperature between the warmer bay and the cooler Nantucket Sound at each tide change are less pronounced.

For a look at the Waquoit Bay sensor raw real time data, please go to the NOAA weather conditions at the sensor located here.

Herring Count Meeting from 3/16/2013

We had a great turnout for the Herring Count Meeting on Saturday!  Thank you to everyone who came.  We noted at the meeting that the water temps have been running much colder this year than in previous years, so we don't anticipate that the run will begin anytime in the very near future.  But, just to be on the safe side, feel free to sign up for any available slots and we will let you know if the fish have arrived.  So, don't go count until we tell you to!

Here's just a quick reminder how to get your dates and times on the calendar:

Go to the "Open Counting Hours" link and look at the schedule.  Once you have determined the dates and times you would like to count, please send an email to herringcount@yahoo.com and let us know what you have decided.  We will post the times and you will see your initials appear on the calendar.  It's that simple.

And please sign up to have emails sent to you from this blog.  You will be automatically notified when we have posted something new.  And please feel free to call or email us with any questions or concerns you may have.  Our phone number is 508-420-0780 and the email is: herringcount@yahoo.com.  We are only at the office from Mon-Fri, 9:30-4:30, so email works best.

Once again, thanks to everyone, whether you could make the meeting or not.  We are hoping for another banner year this year!!!

Counting Meeting

Just a quick reminder for everyone that we are holding a meeting tomorrow, March 16th at 3:00 pm at Liberty Hall in Marstons Mills.  We just want to round everyone up and make sure we are ready for another great herring season!  So, if you counted last year, or if you want to count this year for the first time, please try to attend!

It's that time of year again!!  The herring will be arriving before we know it!  If you counted last year, and want to count again this year, please contact us at  herringcount@yahoo.com or info@3bays.org.  Last year we had an early arrival for the fish, but we are pretty sure after the winter we've had and the colder temperatures, the fish may be later in arriving this year.

We will be holding an informational meeting for all of the herring counters on Saturday, March 16th at 3:00 pm at Liberty Hall in Marstons Mills.  Please plan on joining us and bring along any friends who would like to be counters as well!

Let's hope we have another fabulous year and we count even more herring than last year!!