BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 26, 2024
Before I acquired the wisdom of age and experience, I looked at the ocean the way most people do — as a flat, uniform expanse of water. In reality, it’s the saltwater equivalent of Africa’s Serengeti, teeming with life. You just have to know where to look. Bait balls are a defensive tactic used by schools of small fish to discourage attack. The fish pack themselves into a tight spherical formation, which makes each fish a more difficult target and makes the whole mass look deceptively big. This tactic helps fish evade small predators. But for seals, porpoises, whales and birds, it’s a banquet table. Birds watch each other. When one gull flies toward a bait ball, others follow. Getting offshore is an awesome birding experience. I highly recommend it. ~ Bob Duchesne