Back to the Birch Aquarium...

On a hot summer day (90°+), we returned to the Birch Aquarium, the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California San Diego.

Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond. An oceanographic museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps Oceanography scientists on climate, earth, and ocean science and includes interactive elements.
We came because we were "ready to be immersed in the world of Little Blue Penguins! Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins follows the world’s smallest penguins on their journey from hatchlings to adults, highlighting the challenges they face in a changing climate while celebrating the features that make Little Blues so unique and adorable! They're the smallest species of penguin — less than 12 inches tall, and weighing just 2 to 3 pounds — and are known for their unique blue color, and their big personalities. Birch Aquarium is the only aquarium in the Western U.S. to house these gregarious seabirds."
"Come face-to-face with Little Blue Penguins as they waddle, swim and glide about their new home. This new attraction brings the world’s smallest penguins to Southern California for the first time. The 2,900-square-foot habitat features an 18,000-gallon penguin lagoon, multiple cozy burrows, sandy beach and native plants that mimic the coast of New Zealand and Australia. Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins puts the spotlight on these fascinating seabirds, bringing attention to the important role they play in our ecosystems both in the ocean and on land."
"Little Blues swim 24 miles and dive 800 times a day, on average. To fuel this kind of activity, they eat 20% of their body weight. For a 100-pound person, that's like eating 40 half-pound veggie burgers every day!" Unfortunately for us, these little cuties seemed to be lethargic. We checked on them several times and while fun to ogle, we were disappointed to miss out on their antics!
I loved this, "Little Blues' feathers aren't blue! Tiny fibers of each feather line up tightly. Together, the fibers refract light in the blue spectrum, giving Little Blues their trademark iridescent colors."
Oh and there's that...
Back to the land of my favorite invertebrates!

Did you know jellies are used in research? The green fluorescent protein, used by some species to cause bioluminescence, has been adapted as a fluorescent marker for genes inserted into other cells or organisms. Beautiful and beneficial.






And how cool is this? "Our two-story, 70,000-gallon, Giant Kelp Forest Exhibit immerses guests into the world of this amazing underwater forest ecosystem. Kelp Forests are plentiful in San Diego’s waters and are home to a huge diversity of species. Guests will come face to face with locals such as Leopard Sharks, Moray Eels, an endangered Giant Black Sea Bass, and more — no dive gear necessary!" Very cool I'd say.


A must was a visit to Shark Shores. "Come face to face with La Jolla’s legendary Leopard Sharks and other species of elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) at Shark Shores. The large outdoor exhibit allows you to experience the sandy bottomed habitat of La Jolla Shores without getting wet! See what’s below the waves before your next trip to the beach."

There is so much to see and learn about.
We ended our visit outdoors at Tidepool Plaza. "Get hands-on with our living tide pools at the Preuss Tide Pool Plaza. Get up close and personal with sea stars, sea anemones, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, lobsters, and other organisms that call the the rocky intertidal zone home. Tide Pool Plaza is also the location of some of the most spectacular ocean views in San Diego. Overlooking La Jolla and the Pacific Ocean, this stunning outdoor plaza is a great place for guests to enjoy the coastal breeze and take in panoramic ocean views."
After picnicking in the Aquarium's courtyard, we went to the Shores to get our feet in the warm sand and to continue our oceanic observations just a little longer. What a day.

“Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

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