Mystic Aquarium

Greetings! Here is the latest...

Yesterday (Saturday) was a free day. Nothing too exciting to report except grocery shopping!

Today, Nola is not working so I asked if I could shadow at SANCCOB for the day.They had me help out in the ICU, where today there are eight penguins, (four blues-juveniles and four adults), two P3s (chicks), two kelp gulls, four hartlub gull chicks and one other bird (haven't learned what it is yet). There is a schedule for to follow for the day. It mostly consists of rounds of tubing fluids, tubing formula, feeding fish, giving meds, taking them to the pool for a swim, and then starting all over again. I have successfully been tubing birds all day today! I have probably already done 30 tubings, and it’s only lunch time. I am learning all of their cleaning procedures and about the different meds they use here. I think this afternoon we are getting in two "oilies" as they call them. They get oiled birds in almost every day here. It is quite sad. You see a lot of oiled birds and birds with seal bites, or even just very skinny unhealthy chicks. Others are doing quite well, though, and it makes you really happy to see how far they have come in only the week I have been here. You can really see the progress the treatments make.

What amazes me the most – and I just can't get over it – is how this place is really run by volunteers! The volunteers do everything here. By their second day, they are restraining and tubing birds! They give all the meds, keep all the records and do all the feeding. I wonder if they all know how lucky they are and how special it is to do so much with amazing animals and truly make a difference.

Well, now I am off to practice more tubing skills. Have a great day everyone! See you all soon!