Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering | Whale Watching
Monday, January 07, 2013
Hiding From Killer Whales | Hugh
Grays Whale use Kelp Forest to hide from Orcas
On New Years Day 2013, four killer whales from the pod known as CA-51 swam past Point Vicente where I was helping out the Gray Whale Census Project spot cetaceans. As I went down to the cliff side to get a better angle on the orcas my wife Pam yelled at me to look down. When I did I was surprised to see two gray whales apparently hiding out in the kelp below the cliff.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Conservation | Whale Watching
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The Gray Beginnings | Julien
It’s official: Gray whale season has started and we are well into having consistent sightings! Our first sighting this season was on November 28, and since then our trips have been full of activity. The gray whales spend half of the year feeding in the nutrient-rich waters off of Alaska in the Bering Sea in order to intake a large amount of calories to make their incredible migration south.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Video | Volunteering
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Happy Holidays From The Otters | Hugh
As a holiday treat for our otter fans I’d like to share a video of the sea otters enjoying their snowman and treats during this month’s Holiday Treats for the Animals festivities.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, December 06, 2012
A Snowman for the Otters | Hugh
An Annual Tradition Continued
During the annual Holiday Treats for the Animals festival it has become a tradition for me to build the first snowman of the season for the sea otters in their exhibit. I will be sharing some images and annecdotes on this year’s creation.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Conservation | Whale Watching
Thursday, November 29, 2012
From Blues to Grays to Blues and Fins! | Julien
That’s right! The blue whales have been sighted on several trips between the middle of November to the present! Our spontaneous and unpredictable blue whale season has made for a very interesting, and awe filled November! Lunge feeding blues, fins and mike whales have filled our waters on recent trips.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Conservation | Whale Watching
Thursday, November 15, 2012
From Blues to Grays | Julien
Well, our blue whale watch has slowly come to an end and gray whale season is officially starting on Friday November 16! The trips will leave daily at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Why I Love the Furball | Hugh
Top 10 Reasons
Gidget is my favorite sea otter. When I miss my Aquarium volunteer shift due to being out of town on business trips I tend to go through otter withdrawal symptoms from not being around this adorable ball of fur. Why do I have such affection for this member of the Enhydra lutris species? Here are the top ten reasons why I love the Furball.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Conservation | Whale Watching
Monday, November 05, 2012
Where Have the Whales Been? | Kera
And the blogs too?
If you’ve been following the whale watching this summer and fall in Long Beach, you might have heard that the whales weren’t here like in previous years. Although it’s been a slower blue whale year, the dolphins sure have been keeping us entertained. Read on to find out what’s been going on.
Animal Updates | Birds | Mammals | Turtles | Conservation | Volunteering
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Strolling Down the River with a Sea Turtle | Hugh
Hugh's Field Notes from the San Gabriel River
Strolling down the river with a sea turtle. A falcon hunts egrets and grebes. Sea lions creatively foraging in the river. A look at some of my field notes from a summer of Green Sea Turtle research at the San Gabriel River.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Come See Betty the Sea Otter | Hugh
The Princess Otter
Fall’s cool weather has finally arrived in Long Beach and a cool otter has finally arrived. Betty, the baby otter named after Betty White, has been introduced to the older female otters in the main exhibit. She can now be seen daily by Aquarium guests playing with the other otters and scurrying around the exhibit.