Mystic Aquarium

After seeing the release at Boulders Beach I couldn't wait to get back to SANCCOB and start helping again. I was hoping I could remember everything I learned on my first day since Virginia wouldn't be there to help me this time! I found out at the 8 a.m. meeting that I would be supervising three different pens and that I wouldn't have a volunteer for the day to assist me. Invigorated by the release the day before, I was up to the challenge.
The three pens that I was assigned to contained a total of 60 African penguin chicks and nine kelp gulls. My schedule for the day was jam packed with two feedings for each pen in addition to giving fluids, formulas and medications to those who needed it several times a day. Since it’s also important that seabirds keep their feathers waterproof, I had to give the birds in each pen two turns each swimming in the pool. While they swam I had time to clean and disinfect their pens, as well as put in clean mats and carpets for them to stand on. It was a lot of hard work keeping up with the schedule and getting everything done in a timely manner, but in the end I was able to finish my pens and help some of the others finish taking care of theirs.

Every day I continue to be more and more impressed by this facility and the people who work here and I'm so grateful to get to be a part of the work they do!