Birch Aquarium at Scripps

?? Home Sweet Home ?? Ever heard of a #SeahorseHotel?! Inspired by ongoing habitat restoration projects in Australia, these innovative artificial habitats provide a new type of sanctuary for seahorses and help spread a creative #conservation message of hope! The #WhitesSeahorse has faced significant challenges due to habitat loss caused by boat mooring installations, dragging anchors and excessive sand movement that’s buried significant habitat. To combat this, many organizations in Australia have introduced Seahorse Hotels in areas where their natural habitats have disappeared. Over time, these underwater structures transform into thriving marine ecosystems teeming with algae, sponges and more, providing seahorses with abundant food and shelter. Learn more in the story below ?? https://lnkd.in/gDRsWPWZ

??? Construction on Living Seas is moving full steam ahead! ?? With demolition well underway, we’ve o-fish-ially bid farewell to our sardine habitat. Soon, this space will transform into a stunning new habitat featuring jellies. Please note, during construction many of our animals – including our sardines – are now in habitats behind the scenes where they’ll continue to receive our highest quality care until they move into Living Seas next summer!

? Glow with the Flow! ?Dive into a night of marine magic at our next #OceansAtNight ?? Play retro arcade games like #PACMAN, #SuperMarioBros and more! ??Interact with #bioluminescence and see coral glow ??Enjoy a special evening #shark and ray feeding presentation ??Learn about the local critters during an evening #tidepool feeding This 21+ event takes place Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ??? Buy tickets: https://lnkd.in/edeEg-jj

Ever seen a fish with a built-in mohawk? #Filefish are a truly unique fish that have two dorsal fin spines — one large spine at the front, supported by a smaller one just behind it. Their name comes from their rough, sandpaper-like scales, which feel just like a nail file ??

King Tides are back! From November 15-17, witness the most extreme tides of the year with both the highest highs and the lowest lows. At #BirchAquarium we have a few unique ways you can experience the #KingTide! ?? Tide Pool Plaza and Blue Beach both offer excellent vantage points to view the King Tide at its peaks! ?? Join a Birch Aquarium Educator this weekend for Tidepooling Adventures to explore our tide pools during one of the lowest low tides of the year! Remember to always be a responsible and mindful explorer when visiting our local tide pools. You can learn more about the wonders of King Tides and our Tidepooling Adventures in the link below ?? https://lnkd.in/g_aTW4-R

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who have served and those who continue to serve. ????

?? Welcome Back Tritons ?? We’re so excited to welcome UC San Diego Alumni to the aquarium today for a special UC San Diego #Homecoming celebration! Learn more about this exciting event, plus info about exclusive #alumni discounts on #BirchAquarium memberships and at our Gift Shop, in the link below ?? https://lnkd.in/gqhzpqx4 Please note, the aquarium will reopen to the public at 2 p.m.

?? where'd all the time go ... it's starting to flyyy ?? Remember when we welcomed a tiny bundle of baby #seadragons last Father's Day weekend?! Well, those little ones are now five months old and growing fast! Today they’re about the length of a popsicle stick ?? While they’ll continue to remain behind the scenes as they grow, you can see our adult #WeedySeadragons gracefully glide about in Seadragons & Seahorses! We also have our Seadragon 101 talk daily at 3:30 p.m. where you can learn more about these fascinating fish.

?? Curious about #Coral? ?? Here are five fun reasons why you should explore our new #CoralClassroom the next time you visit #BirchAquarium! ?? Our Bubble and Tongue Corals have been here since 1988 – some of the oldest known corals in #aquarium care! ?? Our Bali Green Slimer coral started as a tiny 3-inch fragment in 1997 and has since grown into multiple large colonies – it’s even been featured in 15 research papers! ??? The largest #GiantClam in our collection measures over 20 inches — about the size of a tote bag! ?? One of our Spinecheek #Anemonefish hatched in 1997 and is older than some of our staff! ?? Certain corals can glow or “fluoresce” in the dark thanks to a special fluorescent protein! You can witness this phenomenon in action at our once-a-month 21+ Oceans at Night event. Want to learn more?! Dive into the details of our new Coral Classroom by reading the story in story below ?? https://lnkd.in/gygX67Qu

?? We're excited for our upcoming Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture —?CalCOFI: Understanding California’s fisheries from Cannery Row to offshore wind energy development. The ocean off the California coast supports a complex ecosystem that sustains abundant marine life and economically important California fisheries. Yet, changing climate and increasing human impacts are altering this fragile environment and its ability to provide us with a wealth of essential services. Join us for an engaging discussion with Scripps Institution of Oceanography alumna Dr. Noelle Bowlin, NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration director of CalCOFI, to discover how researchers from NOAA, Scripps Oceanography and California Department of Fish and Wildlife have been monitoring the indicators and impacts of climate change off the California coast since 1949, and are supporting effective management of this precious natural resource. Get tickets: https://lnkd.in/g5ihC8h3