The Aquarium is featuring a new Science on a Sphere® show called Urban Ocean, presented daily in the Ocean Science Center. Urban Ocean uses Science on a Sphere, created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to illustrate the characteristics of the world’s increasingly urbanized coastlines and to look at the future of the urban ocean as human populations grow.

More than 22 million people live within the Southern California urban ocean’s watershed, which stretches from Santa Barbara to the U.S.-Mexico border. It contains all of the state’s offshore oil platforms and oil islands, as well as the nation’s two largest container ports. Millions of gallons of treated municipal wastewater are released into this segment of the ocean each year. It is also home to some of the busiest beaches in the world, where Southern Californians and tourists from all over the world come to enjoy recreation and scenery. Marine life flourishes here in one of the most biologically productive areas of the entire Pacific Ocean, and large and diverse assemblages of whales migrate along this coast.

Solutions are needed to reduce society’s conflicts with coastal and marine ecosystems and to stimulate appropriate and compatible human uses. The Southern California urban ocean could provide a model for developing these solutions.

Visit the Aquarium’s Ocean Science Center to view Urban Ocean and learn about potential sustainable pathways to the future for Southern California’s urban ocean. See the theater kiosk for show times.

The hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) is an unusual animal that may conjure up images of aliens. Hagfish are found at depths of up to 3,600 feet and grow up to 32 inches long. They have eel-like bodies, simple light-sensing eyespots, and no jaw. They have a partial cartilaginous skull, but no vertebrae, so they are not truly vertebrates. They live on the soft bottoms of the continental slope, with the broadbilled hagfish species occurring in the Western Pacific Ocean near Australia and New Zealand.

Hagfish feed on injured animals or dead carcasses at the seafloor, sometimes consuming them from the inside out. They also hunt for worms and small fish, but their slow metabolism allows them to go for months at a time without eating.

Hagfish can produce large quantities of slime as a defense mechanism when they are attacked by predators. The volume of slime has been recorded reaching five gallons from a single hagfish.

Look for the Aquarium’s hagfish in the Wonders of the Deep exhibit opening on May 24. A display featuring animals that feed on carcasses of whales at the seafloor will include hagfish, crabs, and other deep-sea animals.

The first few weeks of May have given us the final glimpses of our Pacific gray whales and many cow/calf pairs! Since the first we have had nine sightings of gray whales, eight of which were females and young calves. We have been lucky enough to have some very special and intimate moments with the baby grays and their mothers. All in all it has been a fantastic gray whale season and our numbers are bigger than ever. Though we are not seeing many grays pass us by to head back to their feeding grounds up north at this time, we may still see some stragglers in the next few weeks.

Since we have started the official blue whale season on May 1st, we have yet to sight one here in Long Beach, but there have been some local sightings. This means that any day they could be here to show us their amazing filter feeding skills soon! As long as our water stays cool this summer, we will have a better chance of having more krill-filled waters off of our coast and more blue whale filled waters too! Two minke whales were spotted on the other side of the oil rigs on one whale watch occasion. These whales are the smallest of our local baleen whale species only reaching around 30 feet in length and are usually very skittish. Few sightings that lasted longer than a few minutes have ever been reported on our whale watches but sometimes we will get a curious individual.

The dolphin species in our area have really been taking over the show in the last few weeks. We have been seeing some incredible dolphin feeding behavior on our trips and were even able to catch some of it on our cameras. The local common dolphins have been seen frequently around massive congregations of birds feeding on small fish. Dolphins have amazing feeding behaviors including slapping the water with their flukes to stun their prey, chasing them down at up to 40mph and corralling the fish into a bait ball while they take turns lunging to feed. It is quite a sight to witness the dolphins slapping and corralling their prey as the local marine birds such as pelicans, gulls and migratory terns dive to collect the fish who are being persuaded to the surface by the small toothed whales. Dolphins are pretty opportunistic feeders and feed whenever they can on a multiple variety of bounty including small fish, squid, and crustaceans. One trip we even witnessed a few bottlenose dolphins feeding on and playing with what looked like a halibut!

If you would like to search for blue whales and playful dolphins come on out for an adventure on the water! We hope to see you soon!

A gray whale calf glancing at the boat as its mother travels close by.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

A gorgeous shot of an adult gray whale's fluke gracefully emerging from the water.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

Birds and common dolphins feeding on a bait ball.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

A bottlenose dolphin playing with a halibut before eating it.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific hosted three sessions of its Aquatic Academy in February 2013. Experts in the fields of climate science, oceanography, conservation, policy, and ecology shared their knowledge and experience with attendees. This faculty made assessments of whether or not we are facing an environmental cliff and made recommendations for averting such a cliff.

After presentations by speakers and discussion periods, Aquatic Academy participants compiled the plan below. It sets forth a strong consensus view of the most effective and important actions to decarbonize society and reduce the impacts of climate change.

Action Plan to Avoid the Environmental Cliff

1. Launch a broad public education campaign targeting people of all ages.
This campaign should be formulated for use by schools, the media, informal education institutions, and other venues. The content of the campaign should be tailored to various audiences and regions, making it relevant and personal. It should also communicate the urgency of addressing climate change. A critical element in an effective global educational campaign is to provide greater educational and economic opportunities for women. This is the most effective way to stabilize population growth.

2. Shift the present U.S. energy mix toward zero-carbon-emissions energy sources.
Starting immediately, alternative and renewable energy sources should be incorporated into the mix nationwide. Different locations will have different energy-source options, but they include hydrothermal, solar, wind, natural gas, and nuclear energy. Construction of conventional coal-fired power plants should cease. Specific financial incentives should be used to encourage the shift.

3. Conserve resources.
Individuals, communities, institutions, commercial enterprises, governments, and the nation as a whole should conserve energy, materials, and the energy needed to produce them and to process resulting wastes by reducing consumption, enhancing reuse and recycling, and developing new technologies for processing.

4. Overhaul the nation’s transportation system.
Increase public transportation and make private transportation more energy efficient. Improve gas mileage by decreasing the weight of vehicles, increasing gas engine efficiency, and increasing the use of hybrid and electric vehicles. Promote walking, bicycling, and telecommuting.

5. Develop and implement new standards for commercial and residential buildings.
New and existing buildings should be subject to ambitious requirements for energy efficiency. Provide tax incentives for owners of older buildings to retrofit their buildings to make them more energy efficient. Promote innovative and sustainable design for new construction.

6. Develop an ecologically responsible food system that promotes health.
Shift to locally grown foods and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices. Promote healthy diets that reduce consumption of red meat.

7. Redesign cities with an emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency.
Implement sustainable urban planning that incorporates high-density commercial and residential districts, public transit, bike paths, urban gardening, green spaces, and low-water-use landscaping. Make it possible for people to live close to where they work.

8. Promote national and international cooperation to address climate change.
The United States should become a positive role model for reducing carbon emissions. It should cooperate with other nations to set targets and achieve reductions in carbon emissions worldwide.

9. Increase funding for research and development, and encourage exploration and evaluation of bold initiatives.
Promote development of sustainable renewable energy sources to make them more efficient and more economical. Increase funding for research on carbon capture and storage technologies. Foster a community of innovative ideas for curbing and adapting to climate change, but insist on caution in how new ideas are implemented.

10. Get personally active by becoming an advocate for avoiding the environmental cliff.
Support elected and appointed officials and organizations in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Use print and social media as platforms to spread the word about environmental issues. Build social networks dedicated to integrating and adapting to climate change. Become a well-informed advocate for sustainable change.

A pioneer in the civil rights movement in the United States and proponent of nonviolent action, Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. was the Heritage Award honoree at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 2013 African-American Festival. Lawson learned about principles of nonviolence through the Fellowship of Reconciliation and during three years spent in India.

When they met at the Oberlin School of Theology, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. urged Lawson to come to the South and take an active role in the national civil rights movement. Lawson moved to Nashville and began teaching workshops in nonviolent direct action. Dr. King called Lawson “the greatest teacher of nonviolence in America.”

Throughout the 1960s Lawson was active in the civil rights movement in Memphis and in Nashville, where he was a Freedom Rider. He has continued to work on behalf of social justice causes, from labor issues to immigrant rights and international peace.

This year the Aquarium presented the Glenn McIntyre Heritage Award posthumously to Zina Bethune. Founder and artistic director of Theatre Bethune, she died in a tragic car accident in February 2012. She had an extensive and inspirational professional dance career, while being “differently abled,” in her words, with dysplastic hips, scoliosis, and lymphedema.

Bethune appeared in films, on television, and on Broadway. She was a pioneering force for the Americans with Disabilities Act and the arts and disability movement inclusion guidelines for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

In 1980 she founded Bethune Theatredanse, which is now Theatre Bethune. Through this multimedia dance company, she developed Infinite Dreams, the first participatory dance program for youth with disabilities created by a professional dance troupe. Bethune led her dance company on international tours and even received an invitation to perform at the White House.

Pictured: Ivy Bethune, Zina Bethune’s mother; Paula Woodley, Theatre Bethune board member; Kathie Nirschl, vice president of human resources, Aquarium of the Pacific; and Sean Feeley, Zina Bethune’s husband.

Summer day camps at the Aquarium of the Pacific provide great learning opportunities for children, as well as hands-on activities, behind-the-scenes tours, and—best of all—fun! The Aquarium offers programs for kids of all ages in multiple sessions throughout the summer. Check out this summer’s camps below (listed by age group, from youngest to oldest). Click on the camp name for more information or to register.

	Fish Fry Camp: ages 3-4 with a parent June 18-20, July 1-3, or July 16-18 During this three-day morning camp you and your child will “wet” your appetites for marine life with hands-on exploration, crafts, games, and Aquarium tours. Dive into a watery world that you and your child will not forget!
	Sea Squirt Camp 1: ages 5-6 June 25-27 or August 13-15 This three-day morning camp encourages social interaction and exploration independently from parents. Through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, and tours, your child will prove that little learners can learn big things! Sea Squirt Camp 2 July 1-3 or August 20-22
	Ocean Adventure Day Camp 1: grades 2-4, ages 7 and up July 8-12 or August 19-23 Explore the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants during our week-long summer day camp adventures. Campers will get the chance to go behind the scenes, meet animal care staff, and help us take care of some of the animals. Each Ocean Adventure Camp week is a different program. Ocean Adventure Day Camp 2 July 15-19 Ocean Adventure Day Camp 3 July 29-Aug 2 Ocean Adventure Day Camp 4 Aug 12-16
	Junior Biologist Day Camp 1: grades 5-7 June 17-21 or July 22-26 Based on our popular Junior Biologist classes, this camp will feature elements of our traditional Day Camp program, including crafts, games, special behind-the-scenes privileges, animal interactions, and more. Junior Biologist Day Camp 2 June 24-28 or July 29-August 2
	Marine Science Sleepover Camp: ages 13-15 Aug 5-8 Dive into science as you conduct marine biology experiments, go on behind-the-scenes tours, have unique animal interactions, and journal about your discoveries. The camp ends with a sleepover, which includes a pizza party dinner, a movie and popcorn, and special keepsake T-shirt.
	Introduction to Scientific Diving: ages 15 and up June 24-28 or July 22-26 During this five-day dive program participants have the opportunity to dive into the temperate Southern California waters and learn what its like to be a scientific diver! You will earn your underwater naturalist certification, learn data collection techniques at local dive sites, and explore the different underwater habitats. Participants will also have the opportunity to dive in the Aquarium’s largest exhibit. A minimum of an Open Water certification from a nationally recognized SCUBA certifying agency and a picture I.D. are required.

The critter that pushed the envelope in otter behavior is back in Long Beach.

Charlie the Sea Otter is famous amongst zoological institutions. He was the first sea otter trained to give a voluntary blood sample. For the past couple of years Charlie was up north in a famous research facility participating in an important research project on sea otter hearing. Now that that research is concluded he has returned to his home town of Long Beach.

Charlie the Sea Otter is one of the original animals of the Aquarium of the Pacific. If any otter could be called a professional otter it would be him. This large male otter is willing to learn almost any behavior and do that behavior precisely to criteria when asked. Of course at the end of that behavior he expects a generous compensation for that effort. He practically likes plenty of clam and shrimp as payment although an occasional king crab leg would be fine also. I’ve always joked that if you offered Charlie enough clams he would learn to do just about anything.

Long-time staff and volunteers sometimes call him “Chuck” for short. It seems appropriate. Whereas Chuck Yeager was known for pushing the envelope for test pilots; “Chuck Otter” has pushed the envelope for sea otter behaviors. If offered enough clams I’d bet you that Charlie would have learned to fly and broken the sound barrier himself if asked.

You can see Charlie at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s BP Sea Otter Exhibit sometime later this month (after he’s out of routine quarantine).

Welcome back Charlie!

Charlie is the most professional sea otter I've ever worked with.  | Hugh Ryono

Charlie the sea otter is very precise when offering his behaviors.  | Hugh Ryono

The Aquarium of the Pacific will feature an art exhibit, titled Kelpwrack: Gifts from the Ocean, by painter Susan MacLeod in its Great Hall from May 15 to July 15, 2013. Inspired by the shapes, colors, forms, and textures of the twisted masses of kelp on West Coast beaches known as kelpwrack, MacLeod’s paintings convey messages about ocean health. Kelpwrack indicates the presence of an offshore kelp forest.

MacLeod was born and raised in Montana. She moved to Seattle where she earned a bachelor’s of fine arts and a master’s of fine arts degree in painting from the University of Washington. Her art work is on display in schools, city halls, businesses, and private homes, and she is a member of the Beach Ecology Coalition. In past years she created large-scale urban earthworks. To see examples of her work, visit susanmacleodart.com.

The Aquarium of the Pacific staff is celebrating the birth of the first male harbor seal to be born at the institution. The Aquarium’s harbor seals Shelby and Troy are the parents of the seal pup, which was born on May 1, 2013, and weighed approximately 30 pounds at birth. The pup will remain behind the scenes with his mother until he is ready to be moved to his home in the Seal & Sea Lion Habitat.

Shelby came to the Aquarium in 1998. Troy, the Aquarium’s only male harbor seal, came to the Aquarium in 2007. Most seals give birth to young starting at four to five years of age. Shelby is seventeen years old and is considered a mature mom. The male harbor seal is her second pup. Shelby gave birth to her first pup, a female named Bixby, in April last year.

The public has the chance to help name the pup through the Aquarium’s Adopt an Animal program by adopting a seal at the $25 level or higher before June 30, 2013. Aquarium staff members will then choose one of the suggested names. “Parents” at the $25 level will receive an adoption certificate, photo, fact sheet about the animal, invitation to a special event, a subscription to the Adopt an Animal e-updates, and more. Those at the $50 level also receive a seal plush toy. For a full list of levels and benefits, please visit aquariumofpacific.org/adopt. The person whose suggested name is selected will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes to see the pup.

These last few weeks of April have been filled with mother and baby gray whale moments. This is the peak time of the season where we see the most cow/calf pairs heading back to Alaska since they are the last groups to leave Baja. Since the 15th we have seen 14 pairs of mother and calf grays, sometimes shy and sometimes not. Some mothers will keep their calf hidden on the opposite side of her as we watch them go by, and others will show their calves in plain sight. We have gotten a few great looks of these extremely young grays and it is so hard to believe they have to make close to a 6,000 mile journey within the first couple months of their lives! Some of our trips have even been lucky enough to see 2-3 cow calf pairs in one day of whale watching. The adult gray counts have really started to dwindle with only 14 sightings.

Blue whale season has officially started as of May 1st, so we will start venturing out to deeper waters to see if they have begun their feeding frenzy. We will often spot them filter feeding on krill patches along the contours of the underwater canyons that litter our coastline along the infamous California Bight.

Some of the highlights of these last few weeks have been many breaching whales. Recently, we have seen gray whales breaching within a few feet of the boat which is very exciting and not often seen. Fin whales have also been reported to be breaching which is extremely rare! Fin whales average at around 65 feet, and that is a lot of whale to get out of the water! We also had a couple of amazing sightings of a couple huge Northern Elephant seals. These seals are typically found in colonies on San Clemente and Santa Barbara Island, but may have been in the area foraging. Adult male elephant seals can weigh over 5,000 pounds and have been known to dive over 2,000 feet for squid! The individuals we saw looked to be a few thousand pounds and when floating at the surface looked like small whales. It is a special treat and we even have a couple of photos of one popping his head out of the water.

We also have an update on the humpback sightings from earlier this month. After comparing the barnacle positions and fluke shots of the whales, we have determined that they were two different individuals. Dolphin sightings have been phenomenal with thousands of common dolphins feeding on bait fish and proposing alongside the boat and a few bottlenose sightings as well. As you can see there is so much to see out on the water and every day is different, so come out if you feel adventurous!

A great shot of a recent blue whale surfacing for air.  | Captain Carl Mayhugh

A breaching fin whale!  | Captain Carl Mayhugh

A rare sighting of a Northern Elephant Seal checking out our boat.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

Parker is the Aquarium of the Pacific’s largest California sea lion. Standing next to him in the pinniped exhibit I am in awe how massive he’s become. This summer he should top out at about 700 pounds! And he’s still growing! Yet this favorite sea lion of mine is a mere Hobbit when compared to the largest of the Otariidae, the Steller sea lion. While up in Moss Landing a few weeks ago I got a first hand look at the difference in size between Zalophus califonianus and Eumetopias jubatus.

A gracious invitation from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to visit my favorite sea otter Gidget aka the Furball in her new surroundings had led me to spend Spring Break in the Monterey area. While exploring Moss Landing I was surprised to encounter a rather large Steller sea lion haul out on a dock surrounded by dozens of California sea lions. It was stunning for me to realize that the smaller sea lions around the Steller which at first I thought were small juveniles were actually Parker size adult males. This Steller Sea Lion was displaying Thigmotaxis behavior with its smaller cousins. Thigmotaxis is the scientific term to describe an animal’s need to be in physical contact with another animal. The staff refers to it as an animal getting “Thiggy” with another critter.

Male Steller sea lions can weigh in at close to 2500 pounds and can reach lengths of 10 feet or more. For comparison a typical full grown adult male California sea lion weighs in at about 800 pounds and reaches a length of just over 7 feet. Sadly the Steller sea lion population is in decline. The Western US stock is listed as Endangered while the rest of the population is listed as Threatened.

More prevalent in Northern waters they are rare visitors to Central and Southern California. I felt fortunate to actually encounter this one at the Moss Landing entrance to Elkhorn Slough. I once saw one at the tip of Catalina 20 years ago and helped rehab a young Steller that stranded in SoCal in the late 90s. This was only the third wild Steller Sea Lion that I’ve seen South of San Francisco and the closest I’ve ever been to an adult male.

On the same day I also saw a female Southern sea otter hanging out on a dock with a group of California sea lions. In this case the otter was not displaying Thigmotaxis behavior. She may have been using the sea lions as a deterrent to aggressive and amorous male sea otters.

As for the Furball she is doing great in her new home and is being cared for by a wonderful, well trained staff up in Monterey. I know she is in good hands.

Parker the sea lion seems huge when compared to mammalogist Megan. Yet Parker is a mere Hobbit when compared to a Steller sea lion.  | Hugh Ryono

A slightly wider shot of the Steller sea lion seen on April 8, 2013 at Moss Landing near the entrance to Elkhorn Slough.  | Hugh Ryono

In this and the previous images the sea lions are displaying Thigmotaxis behavior. The need for one animal to be in physical contact with another. Getting "Thiggy" for short.  | Hugh Ryono

Not only did I find a Steller sea lion hanging out with California sea lions at Moss Landing, I also saw this female sea otter sharing a dock with them. In this case the otter is not displaying Thigmotaxis behavior. She may be using the sea lions as a deterrent to amorous male sea otters.  | Hugh Ryono

The Aquarium of the Pacific is highlighting Ocean Exploration programs this summer and debuting a new Wonders of the Deep gallery, opening to the public on May 24. Visitors can learn about what possibilities for discovery that lie beneath the vast, unexplored ocean.

The Ocean Science Center, Great Hall, and Ocean Theater are showcasing films that feature deep-sea animals, recently discovered animals, and the history of ocean exploration. At the Ocean Exploration Hub, guests have the chance to see live video feeds from exploration vessels at sea. Aquarium visitors can interact with ocean scientists and explorers live periodically throughout the day.

The Wonders of the Deep gallery immerses visitors in the darkness of the deep ocean, punctuated by the brilliant and unusual beauty of the marine life found beyond the reach of sunlight. Images of submersibles and sea creatures projected on the walls, along with sounds, lighting, and interactive computer displays, give visitors a sense of the undersea world.

The exhibit includes a recreation of a hydrothermal vent, where life forms thrive in the intense heat and dynamic environment of this undersea ecosystem. Visitors will also see a life-sized model of a whale fall—the island of life that survives for decades on the decaying carcass of a dead whale once it sinks to the seafloor. Hagfish, deep-sea crabs, urchins, brittle stars, and other scavengers are exhibited with a model of 9-foot-long pygmy sperm whale.

Additional exploration programs include a guest speaker series featuring world-renowned ocean explorers and Explorers Day on July 21.

Hundreds of students from area schools visited the Aquarium of the Pacific on April 19 thanks to a donation from SAVOR…Long Beach. The corporation donated to the Aquarium’s scholarship program for the eleventh consecutive year, allowing children to visit during the Grand Prix of Long Beach, when the Aquarium is closed to the general public.

More than 300 students from three Long Beach and Lakewood schools had the opportunity to visit the Aquarium to partake in ocean educational programs under the scholarship. The students explored the Aquarium with the entire facility to themselves. Since 2003 SAVOR…Long Beach has donated more than $140,000 in scholarship funds, providing Aquarium visits for more than 12,000 students

In 2011 the Aquarium officially dedicated its outdoor classroom in recognition of SAVOR…Long Beach’s continued commitment to sustainability and education. The SAVOR Watershed Classroom serves thousands of students each year. SAVOR…Long Beach, the food and beverage division of special event venue management company SMG, currently provides food and beverage services as well as catering and special event services to more than 100 facilities around the world, including the Aquarium of the Pacific. “We are able to introduce thousands of students to ocean learning while inspiring them to become stewards of our planet, thanks to the generosity and ongoing support of SAVOR,” said David Bader, Aquarium of the Pacific director of education.

Whales everywhere! So far, April has been a great month for seeing multiple species of whales and dolphins, and we have had some pretty exciting trips. The blues are still being sighted periodically and we have had five sightings already this month! We have been seeing some great lunge feeding action with the blues and the fins, and fin sightings are up as well with 23! Northbound grays have also been sighted frequently, but the numbers are getting smaller since we are nearing the end of the migration. Thirty-six northbound grays have been sighted so far along with a few cow-calf pairs. These grays, from Long Beach, have a few thousand miles left before they make it to their final destination to their feeding grounds in Alaska.

We had a fantastic surprise on the 10th with a pod of 7 Bigg’s killer whales! We have been having killer whale sightings more often than prior years which make for an even more exciting whale watch. This pod consisted of one juvenile, an adult male and several adult females perusing the coast. According to Alisa Schulmen-Janiger from the California Killer Whale Project, these whales’ primary home is off the coast of Monterey California, and one of the females was identified as “Hopper”. This is only the second time she has been reported in this area, and this is the furthest south she has ever traveled to our knowledge. Killer whales are the largest of all the odontocetes, or toothed whales, and they are very talented hunters. There is a reason they are called the ‘wolves of the sea’ and will predate other whale species. Often times we spot these whales hunting off of our coast and this time there was a harbor seal at the wrong place at the wrong time.

We got yet another surprise on the 12th and the 14th with two humpback whale sightings! We have been viewing photos of the humpback to try and make an ID or see if it has been the same individual. This is the third humpback whale sighting in the last month, so maybe it is the same one we keep seeing or maybe there are several? We will keep researching and comparing photos to find out. They are always great to see because they usually spend a lot of time out of water and give an excellent show. This individual was breaching, and slapping the surface with its giant pectoral flippers and even showing its fluke. Some of the reasons humpback whales exhibit these behaviors are to attract a mate, communicate food availability, or to knock off parasites living on their skin. Though our local migrating humpbacks do not mate in our local waters, they could still be communicating to other whales that there is krill and small fish in the area to feed on.

Hundreds of common and bottlenose dolphins have also been sighted almost daily riding alongside the boat. If you would like to come out and have an amazing adventure with us out on the water and see some beautiful animals, we would like to see you!

Blue whale surfacing its massive body to take some breaths.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

A perfect heart shaped blow created by a gray whale headed back to Alaska.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

A recent humpback whale breaching out of the water.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

An incredible shot of a common dolphin surfacing and the bubbles forming on its back.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach are partnering to bring the wonders of ocean learning to hospitalized children and their families. Through the new Aquarium Live education program, patients can take a live look at animal exhibits as they learn and interact with Aquarium staff in real time. Educators will deliver bi-weekly, thirty-minute programs on different ocean topics live from the Aquarium’s state-of-the-art Roddenberry Foundation Education Videoconferencing Studio. Viewers can call in live to participate in the program, asking questions and playing games with Aquarium educators.

“We are thrilled that we can take our long-standing partnership with the Aquarium of the Pacific to the next level with this project,” said Rita Goshert, manager, child life department, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. “This interactive, educational program is a great way for our kids to learn in a hospital environment—either at a playroom or their own patient room—and for most of them, to experience the aquarium for the very first time.”

This partnership was developed between the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Child Life Program at Miller Children’s to help make the hospital experience more positive for children of all ages. “It is exciting to bring the Aquarium directly to kids during their hospital stays. I always look forward to receiving their live calls during the show and teaching them about the amazing animals that inhabit the ocean,” said Alicia Archer, Aquarium of the Pacific education, technology, and media coordinator.

Funding for this program was provided by the Miller Foundation. “The Molina family and Molina Healthcare, Inc. had the vision to connect the Aquarium and its Molina Animal Care Center to patients at children’s hospitals. Thanks to the Miller Foundation and the Molina family that vision is now a reality through Aquarium Live,” said David Bader, Aquarium of the Pacific director of education.

The Aquarium will kick off the summer with its fourth annual Urban Ocean Festival on May 4 and 5. Celebrating the unique Southern California coast and ocean, the Urban Ocean Festival features an art contest and exhibition, poetry contest, the Trashin’ Fashion Show and Contest, live music, and exhibit enhancements that help visitors learn more about how humans and marine life interact with the urban ocean. The Southern California Bight, the section of the coastline that extends from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, is home to more than 20 million people, as well as a rich abundance of marine life, ecologically important natural places used by both humans and marine life, and migration thoroughfares for whales, seabirds, and other animals.

The Urban Ocean Poetry Contest will feature poems with an ocean theme and honor poets in three age brackets: high schoolers (ninth to twelfth graders), young adults (ages eighteen to twenty-five), and adults (age twenty-six and up). A special Urban Ocean Poetry Cruise, featuring readings of the winning poems, will be held on Saturday, May 4, at 4:00 p.m.

The Urban Ocean Art Contest will award prizes for ocean-themed artwork in three categories: painting/drawing, digital/photography, and sculpture/3D/mixed media. Past years’ art contests have attracted diverse local artists whose artwork presented unusual images of the ocean and humans’ relationship to it.

The Trashin’ Fashion Show and Contest continues to grow in popularity year after year, bringing young designers to show off their skills. The contest features clothing designs made out of recycled materials. Designs are showcased on the runway with live music during the festival on Sunday, May 5.

The Aquarium will be offering the Urban Ocean: World Port and Sealife Cruise throughout the summer, allowing the public to get up close to the urban ocean environment and see portions of the local ports, breakwater area, and harbors that are not easily seen. Cruises will be held June 15, July 13, August 10, and September 7, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Urban Ocean Dinner Cruise, exclusively for Aquarium members, will be held on Friday, July 19, at 7:00 p.m. The cruise will be guided by commentary from an Aquarium educator and an experienced boat captain, and passengers will enjoy a gourmet dinner and a tour of the Long Beach urban ocean at sunset. Reservations for this cruise are required by July 16. Call (562) 437-FISH (3474) to RSVP.

Aquarium visitors can learn more about current science relating to our local urban ocean at the Aquarium’s ongoing lecture series. Speakers addressing urban ocean issues in coming months include Jesus Reyes, who will discuss endocrine disruptors in the ocean; Ron Carroll, who will discuss artificial wetlands and their use in treating wastewater; and Eric Zahn, who will discuss restoration efforts at the Los Cerritos Wetlands.

This week I’d like to share some critter portraits I’ve taken over the past few months.

During my volunteer shift at the Aquarium of the Pacific I always carry a camera with me. It’s a holdover from my flight test photography days where you never knew when an image or video needed to be captured or an action documented. In the case of the critters at the Aquarium you never know when they may do something cute or interesting.

For you technology fans out there here is the gear list that I carry to the Aquarium every Saturday. On my belt is either a Canon 260 or an Olympus Tough point and shoot camera depending on how wet I may get. Both are great for grab shots. For the more formal shots I use a Canon 60D DSLR camera with various lenses. It’s a lot heavier to lug around but the image quality is excellent. All three of these cameras can also shoot HD videos along with stills.

I also keep a Go Pro camera around for those times that I send Milo or Harpo out to shoot some shots in the exhibit. Yes, these two sea lions sometimes act as pinniped paparazzis. Check out the Aquarium’s YouTube Channel to see some of the videos they’ve shot. The recent ones are in HD.

Working around such photogenic and interesting critters it’s no wonder that I always like having a camera around so that I can share wonderful animal moments with my readers.

Shelby the Harbor Seal's pup Bixby at nearly a year old.  | Hugh Ryono

Maggie the Sea Otter showing her fuzzy side.  | Hugh Ryono

Avery the Magellanic Penguins highlighted by the early morning light.  | Hugh Ryono

On April 27 the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra (LBSO), under the direction of Maestro Enrique Diemecke, will present a concert at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in the Terrace Theater featuring the world premiere of Urban Ocean. This piece is a new work by Grammy Award-winning composer Steven Mackey commissioned for the Aquarium by supporters Dennis and Suzanne Poulsen.

Mackey describes his piece as “eleven minutes that cast the sea as mysterious, deep, vast, powerful and teaming with life, of which we can usually only perceive the tip of the iceberg so to speak, and the land as bright and bustling with bittersweet humanity. The two worlds are represented in their own distinct sections, then listened to, retreated into, emerging from and overwhelming one another. The end strikes a delicate balance between both.”

The project stems from the idea that the waters off Southern California are one of the world’s best examples of an urban ocean—a segment of the World Ocean used extensively and intensively by humans. This area is also one of the regions of the Pacific Ocean most intensively used by marine life, from dolphins and endangered whales to kelp forest animals.

“Our urban waters are vital to marine species and humans alike. In this region, industry, recreation, and wildlife all coexist in relative harmony in a delicate and dynamic balance. Music is a powerful medium to inspire change, and we hope people are moved to help secure a better future for our urban ocean,” said Dr. Jerry R. Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO.

“We are proud to work with Steven Mackey, LBSO, and the Aquarium of the Pacific to bring to life the excitement and importance of our urban ocean through this musical masterpiece,” Dennis and Suzanne Poulsen said.

The concert also features Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and the jazz-influenced Piano Concerto by Ravel, performed by award-winning pianist Alessio Bax.

Tickets to the April 27 concert are $20 to $89. Student rush tickets are available for $10 with valid ID, ninety minutes prior to the performance. Group discounts are also available. For more information, call (562) 436-3203, or visit LBSO.org.

All LBSO Classics concerts take place at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in the Terrace Theater, 300 East Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, California. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A pre-concert talk led by Classical KUSC Radio Host Rich Capparela will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and offers insight into the evening’s composers and their music.

We have been having phenomenal whale watches the last few weeks of March! Orcas, humpbacks, minkes, fins, grays and more early blue whales have filled our recent trips with excitement. It all started with Bigg’s orca sighting off the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes of a small pod and one of the individuals had never been spotted this far south! The following week we spotted something making an enormous splash in the distance by the oil rigs and it turned out to be a juvenile humpback whale playing in the water! The whale was constantly rolling around, slapping its pectoral flippers on the surface of the water, and breaching! Their pectoral flippers are about 1/3 of the total length of their body, about 10-15 feet! It is suggested that these whales slap the water in various ways to attract a mate and this whale may have been trying to get the attention of any other humpbacks in the area. In the same area were tons of seabirds feeding at the surface on krill along with several fin whales!

Everyday this month has given us some sort of great sighting or surprise! In between the humpbacks and orcas many gray whale calves have been sighted swimming alongside their mothers and in some cases accompanied by another adult. Sometimes a couple adults will travel with a cow and calf pair to act as an extra barrier between the calf and outside dangers like Bigg’s orcas. Bigg’s orcas are the orcas that specialize in marine mammals. Just recently the name was changed from transient orcas to Bigg’s orcas. There is usually no coincidence that we see more orcas during gray whale season than other times of the year. Some of the gray whale sighting highlights have been some breaching behavior and also a couple of playful juveniles rolling around, spy hopping and traveling with a pod of common dolphins.

Right in the mid month, we had several days in a row of blue whale sightings. Of course, as mentioned before, our typical blue whale season does not start until June, but we have been seeing more and more blues feeding on krill out by the contours of the vast underwater canyons that speckle the California Bight. As this is being written, this blue is back and had been spotted a few times within the last few days. We don’t know if this means the season will be different this year, but it sure seems that things may be shifting with the usual blue whale season. Maybe the season will start early and end early, or maybe we will get a longer season. Whatever happens this summer, I hope they stay for a longer period of time because they are a wonder to watch and it is so much fun being with whale watch guests when they see one for their first time!

The sightings to date from mid month to now are 83 grays, 19 fins, 9 blues, 3 minkes, and 1 humpback! Hundreds of dolphins are spotted almost daily including commons, bottlenose, and a few pacific white sided. This means that we have been seeing several animals a day so it is a perfect time to come out with us in search of these incredible ocean mammals. See you soon!

A playful humpback whale rolling and exposing its pectoral flippers.  | Captain Carl Mayhugh

A blue whale circling for krill near other whale watch boats and our own.  | Aquarium of the Pacific

A gray whale turning its head and exposing one of its eyes out of the water!  | Aquarium of the Pacific

A pod of common dolphins traveling at high speed.  | Aquarium of the Pacific