It’s time to live blue™ A female fur seal is born at the Aquarium Aquarium scientists search for new ways to protect right whales Going solar Members’ Magazine Volume 47, Number 1 Winter 2014 On the cover: Northern fur seals Photo: K. Ellenbogen blue is a quarterly magazine exclusively for members of the New England Aquarium produced and published by New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110. Publishing office Aquarium researchers are experimenting with ways to keep right whales like this one from getting entangled in fishing located at 177 Milk St., line. In this magazine all photographs of right whales in U.S. waters were taken under NMFS/NOAA permit under the Boston, MA, 02109. blue authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the U.S. Endangered Species Act. and all materials within are property of the New England Aquarium. Reproduction of any In This Issue @neaq.org materials is possible only through written Dive into a sea of resources online. www.neaq.org permission. Cool Animal: Kitovi 2 Meet our newest Northern fur seal. The website is full of conservation information, © blue 2014 animal facts and details that will help you plan your next trip to the Aquarium. Editor live blue™: Solar Panels and Ann Cortissoz 4 Citizen Scientists Throughout this issue of blue, look for Designer Cathy LeBlanc this icon to point out items that you Future Ocean Protectors: can explore further on our website. Contributors 6 Emily Bauernfeind Using Colors to Save Right Whales Jeff Ives Scientists search for new methods to help Plan Your Visit Scott Kraus these endangered giants. Deb Kulich Get directions, find parking options and Jason Roberts download a Visitor Guide. Global Explorers: 8 VP of Research Scott Kraus reflects on the Check Out the Film Listings Aquarium’s research efforts. Come to the Simons IMAX Theatre and see Journey to the South Pacific 3D, Members’ Notes Penguins 3D and Great White Shark 3D. 10 Visting Tips, Valentine’s Day event, Fish, Fun and Fright photos and more Explore the Oceans With Us See live photos from ocean expeditions and watch videos of our animals. Calendar www.neaq.org/blogs 12 Harbor Discoveries Summer Camps registration, Dive In!, IMAX movies and more View Upcoming Events Your membership gets you a discount on a variety of Aquarium offerings—don’t miss out! New England Aquarium Proudly Recognizes Our Sponsors At the Aquarium Curious About Coral? Explore a colony up close. Be on the lookout for a 6-foot-tall coral While the Giant Ocean Tank and polyp with grasping tentacles! Where? Yawkey Coral Reef Center showcase You can’t miss it among the colorful the larger animals, like fishes, turtles From the President series of sculptures rising up at the base and sharks, these enlarged sculptures of the newly renovated Giant Ocean present glimpses at the tiny coral It’s the start of a new year, and 2014 Tank. When that iconic Caribbean reef species people couldn’t see normally. already looks promising. I’m pleased exhibit got its top-to-bottom makeover Press some more buttons to illuminate to report that Kit, the young fur seal last year, visitors also got an incredible a bearded fireworm, gaudy clown crab born here last August, is healthy and new look at corals in the Curious and a spiny file clam nestled among growing up fast. She has joined the George Discovery Corner. the polyps. other seals on exhibit and is doing great (see page 2). Meanwhile, the Aquarium Corals can create reefs the size of The exhibit is already a big hit, as kids itself has never looked better. Thanks to houses, but not everyone knows that touch the animals in each sculpture the transformation of the Giant Ocean they are made up of tiny animals and pose for pictures among the coral. Tank and innovative new exhibit areas called coral polyps. One of the larger- The Curious George Discovery Corner like the Blue Planet Action Center, our than-life sculptures magnifies a coral is the most visible contribution of visitors are developing a stronger polyp 150 times to show visitors how the Hans and Margaret Rey Curious understanding of challenges facing they work. Want to see a polyp’s George Fund. For years, the fund has ocean animals in the wild and the mouth? Just press a button and light been supporting projects and exhibits groundbreaking research underway it up. Do you know what a coensarc that help the Aquarium showcase at the Aquarium. is? See how it connects one polyp to engaging animals and connect young Research has always been a vital another so they can share food. people with the natural world through component of the Aquarium’s mission. discovery. This coral contribution is In this issue you’ll learn about field sure to be a joy to families for years to studies aimed at developing fishing gear come! to help North Atlantic right whales —Ann Cortissoz avoid entanglement (see page 8). The project could make a significant difference in the survival of this critically endangered species, and it’s just one of dozens of Aquarium research initiatives. As many of you know, our research programs have led to policy changes that have rerouted shipping lanes and designated marine protected areas. Often, we work in partnership with key stakeholders, such as the shipping and fishing industries, and with academic institutions that share our goals. Together we are making a difference and reaching out to do even more. Thanks to members and supporters like you, we are continuing a decades-long history of global leadership on environmental issues. Bud Ris President and CEO Photos: K. Ellenbogen 1 cool animals —Emily Bauernfeind Little Miss Independent It was nearing midnight on a warm evening back in August. The lights were dim and the marine mammal trainers were all on hand shortly after a Northern fur seal pup was born at the New England Aquarium, the second in as many years. The mother, Ursula, rested in the corner while the shiny, dark pup bleated and wobbled her way across the floor to her mom, just minutes after being born. The pup shuffled right up to her mom all on her own and began nursing. It was from that moment that the trainers knew that this pup was going to be a very independent spirit. 2 Today, Kit is every bit the precocious In the wild, the moms head out to sea explorer. Like any youngster with to eat every few days. Weaning occurs selective hearing, she doesn’t always while the mom is at sea foraging. come when her mom calls. It seems So the trainers try to replicate that she’d rather continue to play and decide experience by taking the pup behind for herself when it’s time to follow her the scenes to start feeding fish. It mom’s instructions. Kit is quick to was a very smooth transition for both interact with the trainers through play, Flaherty and Kit. and she always enjoys a good scratch. “Kit is very much her own girl; we She also loves to rough-house with think she has the best of both her Leu, a rescued fur seal nearly two years parents,” says Jenny. Her father, her senior. Isaac, can be shy, but he’s pretty Kit is the second pup to be born in the even-keeled and agreeable. exhibit, so the trainers have a better Ursula, like Kit, has a idea of what to expect. They are able mind of her own. to stand back while she asserts her The New Balance independence a bit. Flaherty, the first Foundation Marine fur seal born at the Aquarium, went Mammal Center through a similar phase. “The first is one of just a few time around, we were all helicopter exhibits in North parents—the trainers and Ursula America that have included,” explains Jenny Montague, Northern fur seals. Assistant Curator of Marine Kit is turning out to be Mammals. “With Flaherty, we jumped a good fit for the bustling, and hovered over his every move and young community of seals stage of development. Everyone is and sea lions here. “We have a much more relaxed this time around.” high-energy nursery,” says Jenny with Take the process of weaning, for a smile. “It means all these young example. The trainers know to look for seals and sea lions spend their days cues from Ursula and the pup—nursing practicing to be an adult through play. “K i t i s ve r y less and spending more time apart—to They have a good time.” And lucky know when to start feeding her fish. for visitors, it is very fun to watch. much her own girl; she has the best of both her parents.” — Jenny Montague Independent Photos: K. Ellenbogen 3 live blue TM House of the Charging Sun Making the choice First steps choice easier. Keep an eye center or housing authority. out for emails announcing a They often have good to live blue™ can be It’s true you have to make partnership between one of contacts to help you out and your daily effort to a lot of decisions up front. You have to find a company your favorite conservation sometimes even financial recycle, save water and to install the panels. Then organizations and a solar incentives! eat local. Those are you have to decide whether energy company. 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