Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, May 10, 2012
IT’S A GIRL! Newborn Harbor Seal Pup | Hugh
Shelby the harbor seal gives birth
When I first started as a marine mammal volunteer at the Aquarium a few weeks before its grand opening in 1998, a young female harbor seal named Shelby was one of the first animals I was introduced to. I had the joy of spending the next fourteen years watching her grow up to become a beautiful adult seal. A couple of weeks ago, just a few days after her sweet sixteen birthday, Shelby the harbor seal gave birth to a bouncing baby seal!
Volunteering
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Images from Grand Prix Weekend 2012 | Hugh
The Aquarium of the Pacific may have been closed while celebrity racers were speeding past the dolphin fountain outside, but there was a lot going on inside as the facility did its annual spring cleaning.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Otter 581 | Hugh
Another orphan baby sea otter finds a home in Long Beach
Not yet named but temporarily known by her case number, Otter 581 arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific a few weeks ago. In this week’s blog I’d like to share a few images of her during her first full day at the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sea Lions in the Rain | Hugh
No matter how exhausting my work week may have been I always find myself revitalized by my Saturday volunteer shift at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Spending time with the critters there always fills me with energy and joy, even in the pouring rain.
Animal Updates | Birds | Mammals | Penguins | Volunteering
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Aquarium Comics | Hugh
The Aquarium's Critters Starring in their Own Comics
A few more comics featuring some of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s critters to help brighten your week.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Welcome to “Olliewood” - The Comic | Hugh
Ollie the comic book star.
As a special treat this week I am sharing a few panels from a just-for-fun unofficial comic book starring the Aquarium’s adorable young sea otter Ollie.
Animal Updates | Reptiles | Volunteering
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Hugh’s Aquarium Animal Cast Of Characters: Part Two | Hugh
The Program Reptiles
They are part of the program animal team. Often looked upon as sidekicks as they are often teamed up with the “glamour” animals, the mammals and birds, during presentations, these critters are quite interesting in their own right. They’re scaly, slithery and even slimy looking. They are the Program Reptiles of the Aquarium of the Pacific. And here are some of them.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Hugh’s Aquarium Animal Cast Of Characters: Part One | Hugh
A list of the critters I spend my Saturdays with
This week I’d like to share with everyone a list of the wonderful cast of animal characters that I’ll be working around on Saturdays during my volunteer shift at the Aquarium of the Pacific in 2012. We’ll start with the marine mammals.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering | Whale Watching
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Watching Breaching Whales From The Cliffs | Hugh
Breaching Gray Whales and Aggressive Looking Orcas Make for Exciting Whale Watching from Point Vicente
There are few places in the world where you can stand in one spot and have the potential of spotting two dozen species of marine mammals. One of those places is in the Aquarium of the Pacific own backyard. The cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula just a few miles up the coast offers a unique vantage point for sighting marine mammals without having the threat of sea sickness.
Animal Updates | Reptiles | Volunteering
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Photographing the Sea Turtles of the San Gabriel River | Hugh
Learning the surfacing patterns of urban sea turtles.
Since August of 2008 my wife Pam and I have been conducting an informal survey of the green sea turtles of the San Gabriel River for the Aquarium of the Pacific. While Pam handles the data gathering portion of the research I have the responsibility of photo documenting the resident turtles of this river that runs between Los Angeles and Orange County. In this week’s blog I’d like to share a few of the images that I’ve shot this past year of these improbable urban river residents.