All the hype we've heard about the Monterey Bay Aquarium is all true. The building is the site of the original sardine cannery and the design has retained all the outward appearances of the original building. Inside though, it is light filled and creature packed!
In the surrounding Monterey Bay lies a wonder of an underwater canyon. Ten thousand feet in depth and wider than the Grand Canyon, this sub-marine oasis offers rich nutrients from the depths and attracts a veritable treasure trove of aquatic species right to the Bay's doorstep.
Asides from the teeny tiny gem of an aquarium (seasonal only) in Ucluelet on Vancouver Island, this is the only other aquarium that we've yet visited that has it all together — a great mission statement that it is committed to fullfilling, outstanding research and focus on education, enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable volunteers, and properly executed facilities for the animals.
The stars seem to be aligned for us here and our enthusiasm opens many doors for us. First up, Emily, the kind educator at the second floor touch pool notes that we have an abundance of good questions. She leans across the gumboot chitons, the sea cucumbers, and spawning sea stars to whisper that we should head down the hall and find Ed.
"Since you aren't going to be here tomorrow when the jellies exhibit reopens, he'll take you behind the scenes to have a look - you seem like you'd really appreciate that", she notes.
Down the hall we head to find Ed, who indeed does whisk us backstage to gawk at all the jellies and the infrastructure to hold them. We are so busy peppering him with questions that we forget to take photos of the incredible room, but Keir gets a few shots of the stringy stars themselves!
We watch the feeding of the fish in the kelp forest, visit the Magellanic penguins (the ones we missed in Argentina!), giggle at the playful sea otters, and watch with fascination the giant octopus move around its tank.
Our next treat comes in the form of an avian wonder. We just happen to be near to the kelp forest when special guest, Makana, the Laysan Albatross, makes an afternoon appearance. This is a very rare opportunity as there are no Albatross of any kind in captivity. Makana is from an atoll off of the Hawaiin islands and was rescued because she had a wounded wing. With all hopes of re-release into the wild it, soon became apparant that her wing injury was incapable of mending properly. So, Makana has offered an incredible research opportunity to the Aquarium and an brilliant educational opportunity to those whose visit it.
After the session, we race to the front to talk to Makana's caretaker and researcher, Eric. Most folks are up front to try to get close up photos of Makana so we spend our time getting as much information as we can about the work being done with her. Eric is entirely obliging and he takes great care and detail in answering our myriad questions. As Makana heads off back to her habitat (not on display), Eric leans over and whispers to meet him up on the third floor.
"She is really mellow right now and I'd like the opportunity for her to meet people other than her handlers - it'll be good for her - and you two seem like you're really interested".
My eyes bug out of my head. Is this really happening!?!!
Up we go where Eric and Makana await.
He looks at me and says, "Now don't be offended but she likes guys more"
Sure enough I look back over and she is "beaking" Keir all over his hand making clicking and mooing sounds. As positive reinforcement, Keir gives her little scratches under her chin and around her face (like the grooming behaviours that would happen in the wild). Eric is really pleased with Makana's warm response to us and we use this up close and personal opportunity to ask him every possible question that we can think of about her and the information gathering/research that he and his colleagues are doing.
My face hurts from smiling so hard and my eyes feel as though they are taking up my whole face. I am beyond excited.
We spend about 20 minutes with Eric and Makana and afterwards, Keir and I have to sit outside on a bench trying to pick our jaws up off the floor.
"Did that really just happen?!"
"Hey, remember that time when we hung out with a real live albatross?!?!"
"Holy crap. That happened."
My day — no scratch that — my month, my entire year has just been made. That. Was. Incredible.
Poor Eric though. He passed on his business card to us. I tried to warn him that my questions were bottomless. Let's see how long until he changes his email address!!!!
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