"We are at the bitter end of the chum run in the McNeil River, although most of the fish we saw caught yesterday appeared to be chums. The lifeless fish retrieved by some of the bears are most likely chum that have spawned, died and drifted downriver with the current...not as tasty probably, but nutritious nonetheless. Other fish in the river may include Dolly Vardens that are feasting on salmon eggs, pink salmon that may be entering the estuary downriver and apparently a few silver salmon make an appearance downriver. The pinks and silvers do not come in great enough numbers to be considered "runs," but they do provide late season food. In other areas along Cook Inlet - Silver Salmon Creek in Lake Clark National Park, for example brown bears gather for the silver salmon run.
"The groups of birds you see in the river are most likely common mergansers, fishing ducks commonly seen on salmon streams. I tried to get a close up of them today, but they are too far downriver...consult a bird book for an idea of what they look like.
"The bear that caught so many fish yesterday appeared to only catch about three today. He was often on the far bank. I don't think he is injured, but you may have seen something I didn't. I haven't seen the bear with the injured foot for weeks.
"Other wildlife in the area include the bald eagle we had on screen today, wolves, foxes, and moose (who are there when the bears aren't!). I wouldn't say the other animals use the river as a watering hole per se like Pete's Pond. Alaska and the McNeil River area has many streams and wetland areas. Congregations of animals in Alaska are more food related than water related.
"I'll be back at 1pm tomorrow. Yes, this is a labor of love in addition to being my job. It's as hard for me to tear myself away from the bears as it is for you!"
