The first stage in the life cycle of salmon is egg.  The egg is about the size of a pea.  It is soft and an orangish-red color.  The eggs have two black dots that are the eyes.  The egg needs to be in cool, clean, water.  They are layed by the female in a redd.  A nest is also called a redd.  Trees along the stream provide shade to keep the water cool, and to help stop erosion.  The eggs are hidden in rocky gravel to protect them from predators.  Eggs contain an embryo.  There is a yolk sac attached to each embryo.  The yolk sac holds yolk, which is the embryo’s food.  Predators are birds like ducks and fish like trout.  Humans also eat salmon eggs.  Only three out of three thousand salmon eggs survive to be adults.  Salmon rock!