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I Speak for the Fish

Read the latest column from Great Lakes Now contributor Kathy Johnson

AuthorsFeature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLatest NewsMichiganNewsRecreation and TourismResearch, Data and TechnologyScience, Technology, ResearchSt. Clair River
I Speak for the Fish: Playing follow-the-leader with diving ducks
- by Kathy Johnson

A team of ducks leads us to where the invasive round gobies are overwintering and along the way schools us in how to find fish underwater.

AuthorsFeature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLatest NewsMichiganNewsRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, ResearchSturgeon
I Speak for the Fish: Courting Sunfish
- by Kathy Johnson

Sunfish offer a special opportunity for people, particularly families with children, to develop a lifelong love affair with nature and fish — no worm required.

AuthorsBeaches, Boating, Paddle Sports and SailingFeature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsForests and PlantsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLatest NewsMichiganNewsRecreation and TourismResearch, Data and TechnologyScience, Technology, ResearchTourismWater Quality and Restoration Efforts
I Speak for the Fish: And the survey says…
- by Kathy Johnson

Doom and gloom coverage of the Great Lakes’ underwater realm has unfairly skewed the public’s perception.

AuthorsBeaches, Boating, Paddle Sports and SailingBooks, Authors, Art and MusicFeature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsHistory and CultureI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLatest NewsNewsRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, ResearchTourism
I Speak for the Fish: Favorite fish books
- by Kathy Johnson

A short, curated list of books that have in one way or another influenced my career.

AuthorsBeaches, Boating, Paddle Sports and SailingFeature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLake SuperiorLatest NewsMichiganNewsPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeProtectRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, ResearchSt. Clair RiverThe StatesTourism
I Speak for the Fish: These catfish have something to say
- by Kathy Johnson

Northern madtom are an indicator species. What does it mean to be an indicator species? What can the tiny catfish tell us? And who, if anyone, is listening?

AuthorsFeature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLatest NewsMichiganNewsRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, Research
I Speak for the Fish: Water snakes are spooktacular
- by Kathy Johnson

Fear of the natural world is often amplified underwater, and water snakes in particular are one of the species that can intimidate even the bravest of souls.

Feature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsHistory and CultureI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLake St. ClairLatest NewsLighthouses, Museums and Cultural InstitutionsNewsOntarioRecreation and TourismResearch, Data and TechnologyScience, Technology, ResearchTorontoTourism
I Speak for the Fish: A Fish’s Shelf Life
- by Kathy Johnson

A private tour of the Royal Ontario Museum’s fish collection with its 1.5 million specimens, representing 7,500 species preserved in 110,000 jars.

Feature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsHistory and CultureI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLake ErieLatest NewsMichiganNewsOhioRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, ResearchSt. Clair RiverTourism
I Speak for the Fish: A jarring look at gizzard shad
- by Kathy Johnson

In years past, acres of shad could be seen schooling just beneath Lake Erie’s surface. These days, schools large enough to block out the sun are a rare sight.

Feature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLatest NewsNewsScience, Technology, Research
I Speak for the Fish: Taking the measure of a rainbow darter
- by Kathy Johnson

The rainbow darter is a tiny freshwater fish. Scale for scale, it’s as flamboyant as many colorful species living among coral reefs.

Feature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLake OntarioLatest NewsMichiganRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, Research
I Speak for the Fish: Not all lampreys are killers, but all are paying the price for their reputation
- by Kathy Johnson

Native lamprey species in the Great Lakes generally get reviled by association with sea lamprey even though they don’t normally kill their host fish.

Fish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishLatest NewsNewsOhioRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, ResearchTourism
I Speak for the Fish: Inside a trout feeding frenzy
- by Kathy Johnson

Gilboa Quarry is a popular Midwest dive destination with underwater attractions that include a helicopter, a plane and an aggressive school of rainbow trout.

Feature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLake ErieLake MichiganLake SuperiorLatest NewsMichiganNewsResearch, Data and TechnologyScience, Technology, ResearchSt. Clair River
I Speak for the Fish: How the round goby changed the Great Lakes, twice
- by Kathy Johnson

In this month’s column, Kathy Johnson looks at how, when and where round goby were first identified in the Great Lakes.

Beaches, Boating, Paddle Sports and SailingFeature HomepageFish, Birds and AnimalsForests and PlantsI Speak for the FishKathy JohnsonLatest NewsMichiganNewsRecreation and TourismScience, Technology, ResearchSt. Clair River
I Speak for the Fish: Playing peek-a-boo with the ducks
- by Kathy Johnson

An intuitive distrust of scuba divers reflects a key survival strategy of ducks and other waterfowl.