Bre Robinson spotted the first salmon to swim upstream under the beam of a flashlight.
The Goldstream Park naturalist was in the middle of a sleepover program, Oct. 4, when she spotted the spawner. While only a few salmon have been seen, the annual run should be in full swing near the last week or two of October.
“All of the fish are in the estuary and the First Nations people are fishing, it’s part of their native rights,” Robinson said.
Schools from across Greater Victoria will swarm the park with more than 200 classrooms visiting for lessons and to witness the salmon run.
The majority of the classroom programs are covered through donations, but each class is asked to bring a minimum donation of $50. The programs run from Oct. 22 to Dec. 7 when 10 classes a day stroll through the nature house.
Last year’s salmon run brought in 41,000 chum and the year before only 4,500 were counted.
The salmon run hits its peak around Remembrance Day, one of the busiest days of the year, the naturalist said.
“When it starts to get good and stinky down here the eagles come out,” Robinson explained. That usually occurs around Christmas.