Rolling, Rolling, Rolling, Get that Capelin Rolling!!

My sister and I had a great time this year in Trinity because we focused on watching nature in action, something which Trinity has in great abundance.  Fortunately, my partner has a boat tour operation, so we were able to go to the more deserted areas around Trinity to see wildlife from the water.  On one expedition, we saw something that really was amazing for me to watch...the capelin rolling.  Being a main lander, it is something that I nor my sister had ever saw before.  For those of you that have never heard of capelin rolling, capelin are small fish smaller than a smelt (actually I think they are from the smelt family) that come into the bay after being out in the ocean for most of the year.  Capelin come in by the millions to spawn on the beaches.  After that, they die.(or so i am told)

 That is a jelly fish shown with the capelin. You can see them in bunches sometimes around the bay.

I have heard of stories where people stand with nets to catch the capelin for dinner.  I don't know so much about today, but I am sure that years ago, there were plenty of people on the beach catching them.  I sometimes see dried and salted capelin in grocery stores around here as well as in the speciality food shops, so I know that some still enjoy it.  My Dad, who was from Nova Scotia ate smelts and once gave me one to try.  I was not impressed....

But to see the capelin coming into shore, well, that is a different storey.  They come in by the millions.  It is amazing to see.  You can literally scoop them up with your hand, if you wanted.  I did and it was amazing to do.  

The most amazing thing though, is watching them throw themselves on the beach to spawn.  They slap against the beach so forcefully, I can't imagine that they could do anything else but die. By the hundreds.  It is a wonder that the capelin are able to survive and continue on to do this again the following year.  This video shows what my sister and I saw that day.

Here are some other pics taken that day.

Capelin are food for other animals, such as whales and eagles in the area.  Where the capelin are, other animals abound, waiting to eat.

If you have never seen this before, it really is a sight to see.  This happens every year on many beaches in Newfoundland.  You don't need to be on a boat, either.  You can watch them from the shore.  This past year was not the greatest for rolling and many areas did not have any capelin rolling.  For the record, these pictures were taken outside of Trinity, Trinity Bay on July 31-August 1st, 2010.  It was one of the more remote areas and really only accessible by boat.

As for seeing the event, though, it really depends on Nature.  But look what else the capelin rolling brings!!

Same cove where the capelin were rolling, there was a humpback feeding on them as well as a group of American Bald Eagles perched on the rocks above.  My sister said that day was the highlight of her vacation here this year to Newfoundland. 

If you get a chance to see the capelin rolling, I highly suggest you go and see it!!