Fish

Description:

A peculiar aquatic phenomenon witnessed on a cloudy day. Mild winter weather.

Habitat:

There are at least three large waterbodies near where I live; two are a stone's throw away. On Saturday I noticed unusual bird activity (kingfishers, egrets and cormorants) on the trees near the lake and also on the lake. I noticed dark patches near the periphery of the lake (2nd and 3rd photo) and a close up revealed these were fry of some kind. Then I noticed some dead fish (last photo). These were floating in the middle of the lake and some had drifted to the periphery...there were quite a few...much more than the occasional ones I see. Some fish were jumping and the first photo is of one such that must have jumped right out and landed on the grass. These waterbodies must have been stocked once upon a time and even now, when the monsoon rains flood the lakes the waters become almost confluent and kids try to catch tiny snails, fish such as Anabas, etc. on the roads. We also see snakes.

Notes:

Was it a lack of oxygen that caused the clustering of the fry? Or the leaping of the fish? Or did some predator (snake maybe..) spook them? Why did so many fish die? The photo is of Mrigal carp. The last photo is of some other species (dead)