10/05/03

The Australian Connection

           A collaborative project by Mr. DeVuono's Grade 4 & 5 students,
             with Mrs. Blair's Grade 3/4 students of Redfish Elementary
                   Mr. Milner's Grade 4/5 students of J V Humphreys
   and Year 7 students from Glenmore State School in Queensland, Australia

We are studying sockeye as part of our water unit. In Australia we do have salmon like the sockeye. Our main fish in Queensland is the Barramundi, also known as a sea bass or sea perch. Our so called Australian salmon is found along the Southern Coastline and is not a true salmon but a sea perch or sea bass. They look a little like the Canadian adult salmon. Photo of barramundi used with permission ISP
So far we have watched a video on the sockeye salmon and taken down some notes. We have also completed acrostic poems and a life cycle diagram. *(see below)*
Barramundi Information from David McAtamney of Independent Seafood Producers Company in Cairns, Australia Barramundi are similar in that they spend their life in both fresh and salt water; however, in some ways they are the opposite to salmon. Barramundi spend most of their life in fresh or brackish water and then move downstream out of the inland lagoons, rivers and lakes around the full moon from November to January to spawn. Where your salmon come in from the sea and enter their home river, Barramundi go out into the inshore coastal margins to spawn . Then the tide takes the lavae back up into the coastal wetlands/inter tidal systems, where they grow and the cycle starts again. The other thing they have in common is that they are great fun to catch, and, like your salmon, barramundi are by far our most famous recreational capture. They are also taste pretty good.	Photo: Son James McAtamney (right) with friend Jeffrey and a recently caught barramundi
Sockeye Salmon Silent darkness in amongst the gravel Only hatches in darkness’ lair Currents swiftly take them away bouncing them across the rocks Killed parents feed the fry Eels slither violently to catch the smolt Yet dangers get more terrifying as they get stronger Eventually pollution takes dangers place Seals and sharks roam the endless blue searching for the innocent prey Although the urge takes its place the dangers have yet again to face Longing to get back home, hells gate have they yet to roam Most of the dangers have they passed the migration seems to last and last Obnoxiously they seek a date; they fight and brawl to get a mate Never will they see the day when their babies grow day by day By Tammy, Rebecca, Caitlin, Ryan, Zachary, Skye and Kyl.

Sockeye Salmon Silently waiting under the dark gravel to hatch Only fearing sunlight and dippers Currents push them down the stream. Keen to swim and continue their epic journey Every move may take away their life Yearning to return to the stream of their birth Exhausted from the long swim they rest in calm water Swimming up the rapids is like crossing Hells Gate Awaiting the sight of a mating partner Life is nearly at its end Milt from the male is now fertilizing the newly laid eggs Only thing left to do is wait to die a masked death Now it is time to pass on to eternal life with their rotting corpses feeding next year’s life by Paul, Margaret, Kirsten, Ashleigh, William, Felicity, and Rebecca.

This site was last updated 06/23/03