Seagulls and Fish and Geese. Oh my!

Today's freezing field trip took me to where the ducks walk on the fish.  Well, they probably do when its not sub-zero like temperatures.  My dad used to take us there when we were kids.  It sure has changed a lot since then.  It used to be just a little roadside pull off but now they have (all closed due to Covid-19) a snack bar, restrooms, and vending area.  Super cute.  Only saw one other guy there when I was there so don't worry aside from the fish and geese and seagulls, there was total social distancing going on. 

I took a quick trip up Route 11 to practice my camera techniques some more.  It didn't go as well as I hoped so Ill keep working on it.  I took 519 photos.  By the time I edited out the garbage I was left with 244 and much of those are just because I hate deleting my photos.  Ha.

So just in case you are not from 'round these parts, here is a bit about the Spillway.



The Spillway Area

The Spillway located near Linesville has attracted visitors even before construction was completed. Carp that were in the Shenango River began gathering at the spillway to capture natural food that was being washed over the bowl.

Over time, tourists began feeding bread to the carp and ducks that gathered there. Today, more than 300,000 yearly visitors make this one of their vacation stops.

The tradition of feeding fish at the spillway is a unique exception to DCNR’s “No Feeding Wildlife” policy. Wildlife, including geese, have been attracted to this spillway bowl since it was constructed in 1934. The flow of water over the bowl provides a smorgasbord of plant material, insect larvae, crayfish, and other invertebrates for waterfowl and fish to eat.

During the 1930s, it was common to feed wildlife at parks and the spillway was no exception. Roadside vendors began to provide bread to feed the fish. As word of this unique area spread, it quickly became a popular tourist attraction. DCNR allows fish-feeding at the spillway because of its cultural and historical value.

And yeah, I know.  It's a lot of pics of fish and birds....but it makes me happy.