THE BELTANE RIVER LEA BLACK BREAM SPAWN

fROM: 10.00am on Monday morning 7 May 2007

The Beltane Boogaloo

Come to the Friends Bridge for 10am today Monday !

You will probably see a marvelous natural fertility ritual unfold before your eyes as the Black Bream of the River Lea, hundreds of them, enact their annual spawning dances.

As the tide level drops to low tide, allowing the grasses of the marginal tidal zone to break the surface, the pregnant females are flipped by their consorts into letting go their eggs orgasm into the spawn flood.

Their eggs stick themselves to the flat sliding stems of these bright green subacqueous liminal plants.

The males, who are overcome with joy at this time, come urgently into the swim upstream of their beloved, releasing their sperm stream bultitude over the freshly egged nursery.

This smelt ejaculation turns the River Lea white with the joy of it.

Onlookers can quite easily watch this natural drama unfold by turning up at the Red 'Friends Bridge' over the River Lea at the top of the big football part of the Upper Marsh for about 10.00am. Nine hours from now.

The show runs from 10 am for 3-4hrs, give or take.
Show up is good.
Get there early is great.
Spread the word.
Be there or be square.

Martin Slavin

See Event/Story with photos on
River Lea Black Bream holding Spawning Gardens prior to the Beltane Smeltdown Monday May 7th5th12th00th