Several species of birds eat herring eggs. Gulls gather in the thousands around spawn areas and within a few days can consume two thirds or more of the eggs that are exposed on a beach during the low tides. Wading birds, and even songbirds forage on these easily accessible eggs; eggs that are in deeper waters are eaten by ducks. Some ducks may dive up to 5 m to tear off pieces of egg-laden seaweed and then bring their catch to the surface to consume. In the central Georgia Strait, Brant geese gather in large numbers on beaches to fuel up on herring eggs on the way to their Arctic breeding grounds. Eagles congregate in spawning areas and feast on the herring itself. In some areas, hundreds of bald eagles have been observed during spawning time.
Bonaparte's Gulls and Glaucous Winged Gulls sitting in and eating form the herring roe in the beach wrack. Photo: Ken Lertzman
