Andrew
01-20-2005, 10:43 AM
Monterey Bay Aquarium "Sea Notes" February 2005
Welcome to Sea Notes, your monthly email update from the Monterey
Bay Aquarium.
1. EXHIBIT NEWS: WHITE SHARK, HAMMERHEADS, MACKEREL & MORE
She's been with us for more than four months, and our white shark
is doing well. Our aquarists offer her salmon and mackerel each
day, fastened by a string leader to a feeding pole to accommodate
her eating pattern: coming to the surface and downing the fish in
a single bite. In the fish, she gets a multi-vitamin formulated
specifically for sharks and rays. You can visit Exhibit Updates
for white shark updates.
We recently introduced a fifth scalloped hammerhead shark into
the Outer Bay exhibit. At three and a half feet long, it had
outgrown the large Australia exhibit in "Sharks: Myth and
Mystery." We're finding that the hammerheads in that exhibit grow
larger than we expected because they're able to navigate in the
space so well. In "Sharks: Myth and Mystery," look for a new
Galapagos shark in the Australia display. It's a small animal
that should be at home there for a while.
Our Marine Mammal Discovery Station will return in February with
several new features, including a touch screen DVD setup and new
props to help volunteer guides tell marine mammal stories. Look
for it near the Sea Otter exhibit.
We've made a few changes to "Jellies: Living Art," too. In
addition to extending the popular special exhibition to fall
2006, we've added paintings by Dan Ramirez and James Wille Faust.
Also, we've moved the "tank of the month" display into the "Art
and Inspiration" gallery, beside the comb jellies. Animals change
on a monthly basis, so stop by to see who's new.
Visit What's New on our web site to learn about these and other
new arrivals in our exhibits.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_whatsnew.asp
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/exhibit_updates/exhibit_updates_popup.asp
2. BEHIND THE SCENES: OCEAN'S EDGE IN THE MAKING
Big things are in the works as construction crews, our exhibits
team and our husbandry staff move briskly ahead to finish the new
"Ocean's Edge" exhibit galleries in time to open over Memorial
Day weekend. When the doors open on May 28, you'll be able to
visit an octopus's den, walk beneath crashing waves, stroll amid
shorebirds and gliding bat rays, and experience new touch pools,
a macrovideo exhibit and much more.
"Ocean's Edge" is a dramatic transformation of our original
exhibit galleries in ways that reflect all we've learned in 20
years of creating marine life exhibits for visitors. We'll
present the coastal habitats of California's central coast
through new exhibits and experiences. Look for many more hands-on
approaches and conservation themes.
The aviary and bat ray pool are being combined into a larger
Coastal Wetlands to Sandy Shore exhibit. You also experience more
of the sights, sounds (and smells) of the Wharf environment, and
see several new animals including new bird species, sand crabs
and skeleton shrimp. We'll incorporate high-definition video
displays and a more naturalistic touch pool area, too. You can
get a small glimpse through the windows by the pump house on our
decks, or check online for more:
http://www.mbayaq.org/aa/newprojects.asp
http://www.mbayaq.org/aa/aa_pressroom/aa_pkits_newsreleases.asp
3. PROMOTIONS & EVENTS: LOVE AT THE AQUARIUM, SHARK DAYS, DIA DEL NINO, FAMILY TIME
Love at the Aquarium, February 19
There'll be romance in the air—and water—at the aquarium for
Valentine's Day. The DJ dance party kicks off at 8 p.m. You can
dance, sample wine and Ghirardelli chocolates, and learn
surprising mating secrets of marine life.
Shark Days, February 26 and 27
This two-day event gives you an opportunity to get up close and
personal with these fascinating creatures. The weekend will
feature special auditorium programs and shark feeding shows.
Dia del Nino, April 24
Come celebrate children and families at the aquarium. Children
age 12 and under will be admitted free all day. We're planning
crafts, activities and Latin American performances throughout the
aquarium.
Family Time Coupon
Plan a visit now to take advantage of our special family time
coupon offer—$49.95 for two adults and two children (ages 3 thru
17). It's available only through our web site. Print and bring
the coupon to the aquarium box office on the day of your visit.
Offer expires May 31, 2005.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_coupon.asp
Check our online calendar for details and more events.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_calendar.asp
4. CONSERVATION IN ACTION: TAG-A-GIANT PROJECT
Over the years, we've worked with scientists from Stanford and
Duke universities along with others from the National Marine
Fisheries Service and collaborated with sport fishermen in the
Tag-A-Giant program off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Tag-A-
Giant researchers have placed more than 800 electronic tags on
giant bluefin tuna, many of them on fish that weigh 500 pounds or
more and measure up to eight feet in length. Data from these tags
has helped document the basic biology of Atlantic bluefin and the
patterns of their movements to feeding and breeding grounds-
information vital to the management of a population that is in
sharp decline across the Atlantic.
This January, in the first six days of the 2005 season, weather
conditions have been ideal and more than 70 bluefin have been
tagged. That brings the total for the program over the past
decade to nearly 900 fish. You can find out more, and follow the
action, at
http://www.tunaresearch.org/tagagiant/north_carolina_2005.html
5. FREE OFFERS: GIFT & BOOKSTORE DISCOUNT, OCTOPUS WALLPAPER
This month's Sea Notes specials include a discount offer at our
Gift & Bookstores and free giant octopus wallpaper.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_seanotes/vi_seanotes_specials.asp
********
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit institution. Our
mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans. You can support
our many education programs and marine research projects by:
- Becoming a member or making an online donation.
http://www.mbayaq.org/md/
- Sending a conservation-oriented electronic postcard to friends.
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_se/se_vwl_help.asp
We welcome your thoughts and comments.
(equarist@mbayaq.org)
Welcome to Sea Notes, your monthly email update from the Monterey
Bay Aquarium.
1. EXHIBIT NEWS: WHITE SHARK, HAMMERHEADS, MACKEREL & MORE
She's been with us for more than four months, and our white shark
is doing well. Our aquarists offer her salmon and mackerel each
day, fastened by a string leader to a feeding pole to accommodate
her eating pattern: coming to the surface and downing the fish in
a single bite. In the fish, she gets a multi-vitamin formulated
specifically for sharks and rays. You can visit Exhibit Updates
for white shark updates.
We recently introduced a fifth scalloped hammerhead shark into
the Outer Bay exhibit. At three and a half feet long, it had
outgrown the large Australia exhibit in "Sharks: Myth and
Mystery." We're finding that the hammerheads in that exhibit grow
larger than we expected because they're able to navigate in the
space so well. In "Sharks: Myth and Mystery," look for a new
Galapagos shark in the Australia display. It's a small animal
that should be at home there for a while.
Our Marine Mammal Discovery Station will return in February with
several new features, including a touch screen DVD setup and new
props to help volunteer guides tell marine mammal stories. Look
for it near the Sea Otter exhibit.
We've made a few changes to "Jellies: Living Art," too. In
addition to extending the popular special exhibition to fall
2006, we've added paintings by Dan Ramirez and James Wille Faust.
Also, we've moved the "tank of the month" display into the "Art
and Inspiration" gallery, beside the comb jellies. Animals change
on a monthly basis, so stop by to see who's new.
Visit What's New on our web site to learn about these and other
new arrivals in our exhibits.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_whatsnew.asp
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/exhibit_updates/exhibit_updates_popup.asp
2. BEHIND THE SCENES: OCEAN'S EDGE IN THE MAKING
Big things are in the works as construction crews, our exhibits
team and our husbandry staff move briskly ahead to finish the new
"Ocean's Edge" exhibit galleries in time to open over Memorial
Day weekend. When the doors open on May 28, you'll be able to
visit an octopus's den, walk beneath crashing waves, stroll amid
shorebirds and gliding bat rays, and experience new touch pools,
a macrovideo exhibit and much more.
"Ocean's Edge" is a dramatic transformation of our original
exhibit galleries in ways that reflect all we've learned in 20
years of creating marine life exhibits for visitors. We'll
present the coastal habitats of California's central coast
through new exhibits and experiences. Look for many more hands-on
approaches and conservation themes.
The aviary and bat ray pool are being combined into a larger
Coastal Wetlands to Sandy Shore exhibit. You also experience more
of the sights, sounds (and smells) of the Wharf environment, and
see several new animals including new bird species, sand crabs
and skeleton shrimp. We'll incorporate high-definition video
displays and a more naturalistic touch pool area, too. You can
get a small glimpse through the windows by the pump house on our
decks, or check online for more:
http://www.mbayaq.org/aa/newprojects.asp
http://www.mbayaq.org/aa/aa_pressroom/aa_pkits_newsreleases.asp
3. PROMOTIONS & EVENTS: LOVE AT THE AQUARIUM, SHARK DAYS, DIA DEL NINO, FAMILY TIME
Love at the Aquarium, February 19
There'll be romance in the air—and water—at the aquarium for
Valentine's Day. The DJ dance party kicks off at 8 p.m. You can
dance, sample wine and Ghirardelli chocolates, and learn
surprising mating secrets of marine life.
Shark Days, February 26 and 27
This two-day event gives you an opportunity to get up close and
personal with these fascinating creatures. The weekend will
feature special auditorium programs and shark feeding shows.
Dia del Nino, April 24
Come celebrate children and families at the aquarium. Children
age 12 and under will be admitted free all day. We're planning
crafts, activities and Latin American performances throughout the
aquarium.
Family Time Coupon
Plan a visit now to take advantage of our special family time
coupon offer—$49.95 for two adults and two children (ages 3 thru
17). It's available only through our web site. Print and bring
the coupon to the aquarium box office on the day of your visit.
Offer expires May 31, 2005.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_coupon.asp
Check our online calendar for details and more events.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_calendar.asp
4. CONSERVATION IN ACTION: TAG-A-GIANT PROJECT
Over the years, we've worked with scientists from Stanford and
Duke universities along with others from the National Marine
Fisheries Service and collaborated with sport fishermen in the
Tag-A-Giant program off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Tag-A-
Giant researchers have placed more than 800 electronic tags on
giant bluefin tuna, many of them on fish that weigh 500 pounds or
more and measure up to eight feet in length. Data from these tags
has helped document the basic biology of Atlantic bluefin and the
patterns of their movements to feeding and breeding grounds-
information vital to the management of a population that is in
sharp decline across the Atlantic.
This January, in the first six days of the 2005 season, weather
conditions have been ideal and more than 70 bluefin have been
tagged. That brings the total for the program over the past
decade to nearly 900 fish. You can find out more, and follow the
action, at
http://www.tunaresearch.org/tagagiant/north_carolina_2005.html
5. FREE OFFERS: GIFT & BOOKSTORE DISCOUNT, OCTOPUS WALLPAPER
This month's Sea Notes specials include a discount offer at our
Gift & Bookstores and free giant octopus wallpaper.
http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_seanotes/vi_seanotes_specials.asp
********
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit institution. Our
mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans. You can support
our many education programs and marine research projects by:
- Becoming a member or making an online donation.
http://www.mbayaq.org/md/
- Sending a conservation-oriented electronic postcard to friends.
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_se/se_vwl_help.asp
We welcome your thoughts and comments.
(equarist@mbayaq.org)