Photo by Oregon Coast Aquarium
Whether it’s a Behind-the-Scenes tour above the Passages of the Deep, a smooch from a 500-pound sea lion, or a playful encounter with a four-foot-tall brown pelican, visitors will find plenty of exciting and engaging activities at the Oregon Coast Aquarium throughout the summer. The Aquarium, ranked among the ten best in the U.S., will offer a variety of education programs this summer to broaden the world of marine science for new and return visitors alike.
Beginning May 28th, perennial favorites such as the Sea Lion Kiss will be offered 4 days a week, Friday through Monday. Visitors interested in a Behind-the-Scenes Tour can schedule one any day of the week, and the comically majestic brown pelicans will make twice-daily appearances, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The pelicans, initially very shy, have settled comfortably into their on-stage feeding presentations—so much so that an additional offering is available every afternoon throughout the summer. Debuted last year, the pelican presentations have become a rewarding experience for the birds, trainers and visitors alike.
And speaking of birds: The daily Vulture Chat at noon allows visitors to “talk” with our turkey vultures through the interpretive skills of our aviculturists. People will learn about the vultures’ keen sense of smell—a rarity in the bird world—as well as their somewhat unconventional method of keeping cool on hot days. On certain days each week, visitors can view the feeding frenzy in the shark infested waters of the Open Sea exhibit, or witness the slow-motion drama of a sea star extruding its stomach to consume a clam during the Tide Pool Feed.
Returning this summer is the Drifter Detectives Plankton Discovery Station, where kids and their families learn about marine life unseen by the naked eye. Families can also learn about the unique adaptations of marine and coastal animals at the Passages Discovery Zone. Be sure to mark your calendar for World Oceans Day on June 25th and Tuna Fishery Day on August 17th. For details about all of these programs, when to see them and to buy advance tickets or make reservations, visit aquarium.org.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium will be open every day this summer from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. starting Saturday, May 28. Summer hours and scheduling will last until Labor Day, September 5. For more information, call (541) 867-3474 or visit aquarium.org.
