Aquarium 101 Training

Man oh man was I nervous on Saturday. Having been admitted into the aquarium's volunteer community we had our first official training day for new employees. I was jumpy as could be and sleepy too- having stayed up too late at a pictionary tournament (important I know). Rolling along through the first fog of the winter, I made the early drive to the coast. I parked as instructed and gave the security guard my name, which he had on a list and therefore grants me free parking and aquarium admission as long as I am an employee. Feeling still nervous and a little bit like a big shot after that, I made my way inside.

There is something particularly amazing about any huge public place that is temporarily empty. The aquarium is no exception. In the quiet of the early morning the main hall was devoid of the swarms of shouting children, fussing parents, picture snapping tourists and other visitors. The only life was the dozing security guard at the information counter and the housekeeping staff which quietly go about their morning routine. I made a huge mistake- there was no other human life. The aquarium is full to the brim of life that is particularly busy at this hour. The thousands upon thousands of water dwelling inhabitants were rapidly turning circles in their plexi glass galleries, holding several thousand tons of seawater freshly pumped daily from a location far out at sea. The barks of sea lions, screeches of seabirds echoed through the hall. It was noisy, but lacking human noise, and so it was significantly quiet. You could even hear the sighing of the metal chords that hold up the life size model of a blue whale mother and calf that suspend majestically over the first floor, frozen in mid- swim. The female, I learn later, in real life would weigh several tons- more than any other living thing combined. Her tounge alone would be heavier than three african elephants. Her heart is the size of a small honda. She has the kindest face I have ever seen.

Our classroom was outside in the back past the sea lions and touch tanks. The moment I opened the door to the outdoor back half I was surrounded by a new noise- one that caused me to tear up at once because I recognized it immediately. The screeches and whistles of hunderds of rainbow lorikeets floated out of the newest exhibit. Lorikeets are native to northern Australia, and are in fact so numerous they borderline pestulence. In the evenings they roost together in the hundreds, making so much noise its impossible to think within 100 feet of them. Smart, talkative, and incredibly colorful, they are popular pets in the States. It has become one of the saddest things in the world to see such a social bird that comes from the unlimited freedom of the Australia sky locked up alone in a PetCo cage. Here they have tons of them in an enormous walk through exhibit. Its not the Australia sky, but its not bad either. Hearing them gave me this huge wave of Australia- sickness, and the thought of being able to come to the aquarium whenever I want and be surrounded by a sound from the country I miss so much was unbelievably precious.

Jeez I haven't even made it through the first five minutes. Sorry guys.

I was nervous because I was scared the job had just landed myself was going to be something different than I thought, dispite the research. That instead of giving talks about whales, supervising the touch- tanks, wading through the shark exhibit after someone's lost toy, or taking groups through the beautiful lorikeet exhibit I would be preparing powerpoint presentations or doing paperwork- the horror!!!! But within the first few minutes those fears were put to rest. After the first half of the day, learning about safety in the workplace, our responsibilities as volunteer employees, leading by example, and the mission of the aquarium (to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the ocean, its inhabitants and ecosystems), we were then given the ULTIMATE aquarium tour. The good stuff that not everyone gets to see. The tops of the tanks where divers jump in and fish are fed (after thoroughly disinfecting our shoes), the staff library (no one leaves the aquarium without getting all their ocean questions answered. If we the staff do not know it, we find out for them), the veteranary clinic that joyfully doesn't need to be used often (first non- human to recieve a cat- scan was a seal at this particular aquarium!!! She was alright, don't worry) the staff lounge where I don't plan on spending lots of time, and best of all the quarantine areas, where animals that are new or sick or under surveilance of some kind get put to rest away from audiences. I saw medicated fish, fish not yet on display, 17 day old seahorse babies (or rather the tank they were in. The babies themselves were about the size of my pinky nail. Perfectly funtioning independent things...soooooo tiny!!!) and, wait for it, a baby sea otter too young to be put in an exhibit. Good god it was marine science disneyland. I was trying my best to behave like a responsible scientist but I was having mental spasms of joy.

Lunch. Break (went to visit the otters again). Then we divided into our specific groups to learn more about our responsibilities. I'm in the edication department. It is my job to educate the public on the creatures (both marine and otherwise) at the aquarium. Sometimes I will have specific stations, like the shark table or the bat- ray exhibit. I explain what the animals are, where they come from, how they behave, etc. Please wash your hands after touching them boys and girls. They are covered in mucus (the sea creatures are, but the kids are too I suppose). Sometimes I will wander the floor and answer questions, give impromtu tours, teach teach teach, learn learn learn. All under the watchful eye of my new plastic blue whale friend (who needs a guardian angel? I have a 300000 pound infinitely wise mother creature looking after me).

And that was training day one. I have one more session- a several hour night class with basic biology and information about the marine creatures I am the newest steward of. Then I can start. Oh my god!
I left the aquarium on Saturday feeling lighter than a fairy shrimp. I said see ya later to my new volunteer friends and the lorikeets, waved to the sea lions, the fish and invertibrates. The aquarium was packed full of guests, cramming themselves in front of tanks and running in circles around the exhibits. Through the crowd, I winked at the blue whale on my way to the door. I saw her smile at me. Soon I'll start.

Did You Know: The fish- eating creatures under aquarium care are fed 5 star restaurant quality fish. Only they are fed sustainable species, which I wish humans were more careful about too.