The "Dad of the Year" award goes to this flathead catfish on the Black River in North Carolina. A sudden drop in water level caused the fish to be stranded at the base of a rotting tree. I wondered why it didn't leave as the water receded-until I saw the pile of pink eggs by its tail. I realized the fish was trapped by staying to care for its offspring.
It's common for males to watch over eggs and defend them from potential predators-and, in some cases, even from the mother. Of all the things I've seen in swamps, this was one of the most striking examples of survival.
Cypress swamps are difficult places to thrive. Seasonal fluctuations of water shape these ecosystems and the residents that call them home. Although I didn't stick around to see what happened to this father, I was encouraged to see that the water levels did come up just a few days later.
Photo by Mac Stone. There's a behind the scenes video about this photo on his instagram.
