Winter 2017 VAQ

WINTER 2017

Virginia Aquarium Quarterly

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN TWO SPECIAL NEW ADDITIONS

SEA ADVENTURES WINTER BRINGS BIG VISITORS

WINTER 2017 | VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY

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MEMBERSHIP QUICK FACTS HOURS OF OPERATION

9 –5 AM

CONTACT INFORMATION (757) 385-FISH

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VirginiaAquarium.com Membership@VirginiaAquarium.com

Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s mission is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research and sustainable practices.

WINTER 2017, VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 VAQ is published four times a year by the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation located at 717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451.

EDITOR Matthew Klepeisz ADVISOR Caryl Thompson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ashley Laginestra CONTRIBUTORS Barb Beverage, Karen Burns, Lynn Clements, Alexander Costidis, Evan Culbertson, Becca Thomas, Lisa Grigolite, Chip Harshaw, Jennifer Hill, Matthew Klepeisz, Catherine Miller, Michael Mizell, Alexis Rabon, Shawn Reid, April Strickland, Mark Swingle, Kris Williams

We care about conservation VAQ is printed with soy-based inks on post-consumer recycled paper.

DAILY ADMISSIONS PER MEMBERSHIP LEVEL

2 4 6 OTTER

CRAB

At least one named cardholder must be present during each visit. Philanthropic membership is also available through our Giving Societies. Learn more at www.VirginiaAquarium.com/join.

MEET

SANTA

SATURDAYS 11am | Scuba Santa

SUNDAYS

11am | Scuba Santa 12–3pm | Sundays with Santa

DECEMBER 11 & 18 8:30–10am | Donuts & Cocoa with Santa

Please remember to recycle VAQ when you’re finished reading & sharing it.

HEDGEHOG

DECEMBER 17 10:30am & 12pm Sailing with Santa Check our program & events guide on page 12 for more details.

HIGHLIGHTS

LYNN'S LINES

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Sea Adventures

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New Additions

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Stranding News

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Budding Coral

IT BEGINS WITH PASSION "Science is not only a disciple of reason, but, also, one of romance and passion." ~ Stephen Hawking Sometimes we feel like we are living an episode of Mike Rowe’s "Dirty Jobs."

Each day we scrub acrylic to ensure you have the best views possible into the aquariums. Smelt, squid, and herring are chopped, weighed, and fed to our animals. Water samples are taken and tested. Waste is cleaned from habitats, and always – always - animal health records are meticulously updated.

Merchandise for the gift shop is unboxed and placed on display. Fresh popcorn is popped, delicious lunch offerings prepared. Floors are swept, trash taken out, and restrooms are constantly cleaned. Tree limbs along the nature path are trimmed, and flower beds are mulched. There are countless behind-thescenes tasks essential to our successful operation.

While the work may not always be glamorous, it is our passion. We do this because we believe in our mission, and want to inspire each visitor to take action and protect our environment.

On the very best of days, we see the results of our hard work. Inside this issue, you’ll learn about the surprising birth of komodo dragons, and the successful propagation of delicate corals. You’ll see how the work of our Stranding Response Program impacts our community and how we offer you the chance to see whales in their natural habitat.

You’ll find many programs and events that you can participate in so that you can explore your passion, like our volunteers featured on page 19. And hey, if you see Mike Rowe, let him know we’d love for him to join our team, too, even if just for a day!

Executive Director

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Event Guide

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Just for Kids

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Expert Q & A

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Volunteer Spotlight

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Conservation

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FISH FINATIC

OYSTER TOADFISH Opsanus tau | Located in the Marsh Pavilion

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Males “sing” to attract mates and can be heard making a “foghorn” sound at night.

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The male guards the eggs until they hatch in a nest, which he created. He will then continue to guard them for the first few weeks of their lives.

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While they are not venomous, toadfish do have sharp dorsal and gill spines to protect themselves.

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They have sharp teeth paired with a strong bite for catching and crushing prey, like small crabs, shrimp, and, occasionally, other small fish or mollusks.

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Oyster toadfish can withstand polluted water, and can even survive out of the water for extended periods of time.

FEATURE

A WHALE OF A TIME

BY ALEXI S R A BON

Birds are plunge-diving for a snack around a school of fish, creating large splashes over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly, a dark body breaks the surface of the water nearby. “WOOSH!� is heard as the large animal exhales its warm breath, in stark contrast with the cool surrounding air, creating a mist in the sky. The back of the animal is visible for only a few moments. To the delight of the passengers on board, the whale then dives and, with a perfect arch, descends into the depths, flashing the underside of its lifted tail fluke.

These are some of the exciting sights and sounds that accompany our winter boat trips. As the waters cool down, the diversity of wildlife migrating through the coastal waters of Virginia heats up! Join us this winter on an excursion aboard the Atlantic Explorer in search of the large whales, seals, and seabirds that frequent our waters when the temperature drops. Marine mammal species commonly observed include humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, right whales, bottlenose dolphins, harbor porpoises, and harbor seals, along with a variety of seabirds and waterfowl, such as northern gannets and red-breasted mergansers.

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With 30 years of experience connecting guests with the area’s marine life, our Sea Adventures offer unparalleled experience and expertise in our seasonal visitors. Specially trained educators and volunteers share the Aquarium’s ongoing scientific research and conservation efforts that help protect the large whales that visit our coast, and their habitat, during the trip. In addition, staff members on board collect data related to whale and dolphin sightings. This information is used in the Aquarium’s research and conservation efforts that contribute to federal and regional management of marine mammal populations and environmental assessments.

December marks the beginning of the Whales & Wildlife season, which continues into March.

Please visit VirginiaAquarium.com or call (757) 385-FISH for availability and special trip offerings.

Ticket prices for the 2-2.5 hour trip are $28 for adults and $24 for children ages 3-11, and can be purchased online or at Guest Services.

A portion of all ticket sales support Virginia Aquarium conservation initiatives.

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ANIMAL FEATURE

BUDDING CORAL B Y E VA N C U L B E R T S O N

As an aquarium professional, and a recipient of the Batten Scholarship Fund, I attended the Sexual Coral Reproduction (SECORE) annual workshop in Curacao to assist with coral reproductive studies. SECORE is a global network of researchers, aquarium professionals, and local stakeholders that use multidisciplinary strategies combining research, education, outreach, and restoration to conserve coral reefs. These workshops help us understand the effects of climate change on corals, allowing us to restore populations of endangered coral species and reestablish healthy reefs around the world.

Corals have evolved two main modes of reproduction: sexual and asexual. Sexual reproduction is important to coral survival because it creates great genetic diversity. There are two types of sexual reproduction: broadcast spawning and brooding. Broadcast spawning occurs when sperm and eggs are released into the water column, where fertilization takes place. After fertilization, the planula larvae swim to the bottom, attach in suitable locations, and metamorphose into a coral polyp. Alternatively, brooding is when fertilization and embryogenesis take place within the polyp, and larvae are released ready to settle and grow. Asexual reproduction, however, can be classified as either fragmentation or budding. Fragmentation occurs when a coral colony is broken apart and then reattaches and grows into a new colony.

Budding is when one polyp splits into two, creating two identical polyps.

SECORE is working to restore broadcast spawning corals because their reproductive mode makes them the most negatively affected by climate and environmental changes. My job was to collect planula larvae on the reef during spawning events and raise them in the SECORE lab.

Over the next few days, we observed the larvae and performed studies on them. After the planula metamorphosed into coral polyps, they were transferred back to the reefs where they were found. Knowledge from the workshops can be used around the world to understand why coral reefs are dying and, hopefully, start restoring local reefs.

Photo rights & credit: Paul Selvaggio

Collecting the Coral Covering the spawning coral, the SECORE team collects the planulae using common household items that are easy to recreate with limited resources.

Growing Coral The planulae are transported to an on-site lab where they are fertilized before eventual transfer to reefs.

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MIRACLES DO HAPPEN (& WE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER)

By Chip Harshaw

HARD WORK COMES FIRST Our baby Komodo dragons were the result of work that began almost 14 years ago; well before we knew that Jude would join us, that Teman would be a father, and, even, before the Restless Planet exhibit gallery was designed. The process, from architectural planning to public opening, required seven years of intense work.

One of the more challenging tasks we faced during the exhibit planning process was identifying unique species that would reside in the Restless Planet gallery. It quickly became apparent that certain species, such as Komodo dragons, were not sitting around waiting for a home. In fact, finding Komodos would end up

requiring years of collaborating with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Komodo Dragon Species Survival Plan (SSP) searching for available dragons.

While identifying animals for our new exhibits was a critical component to our success, another cornerstone to the planning and animal selection process was our commitment to the conservation of signature animals, like Komodo dragons in the wild. Ultimately, the Aquarium hoped to acquire genetically compatible animals, through breeding loans, with the goal of successful reproduction of this International Union for Conservation of Nature threatened species.

BRINGING IN THE KOMODOS Once the SSP team gave us clearance, we were ready to bring Komodo dragons to our facility. The ultimate goal was to bring animals that were within the breeding age and capable of healthy reproduction, but that is not always the case. We had to wait and see which animals were available, and from where. We received Teman from the Denver Zoo in June 2006, and Kiki and Sanchez from the Topeka Zoo in April 2007. After five years, Kiki

Great care was taken when designing these exhibits to ensure that we create immersive, stimulating environments.

moved to the Toronto Zoo. We received Jude from the San Antonio Zoo in September 2012 as a suitable genetic match to Teman. It was a long road, but Jude and Teman were paired together by the SSP. We were almost there, until Jude became ill.

ANIMALS ON THE SSP ARE PAIRED TOGETHER BASED ON SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING GENETIC COMPATIBILITY.

Top: Teman and Jude were carefully introduced and spent some quality time together.

Bottom: Jude and a newly laid egg. This was one of several that were not viable.

Unfortunately, on July 18, we were forced to make the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Jude, following two months of around the clock care. She was battling a medical condition, egg yolk peritonitis, which is inflammation and infection caused by egg yolk in the abdominal cavity. After such a heartbreaking loss, we wondered how we would move forward with the complex processes of breeding loans and the lack of animal availability.

THERE ARE ONLY 199 KOMODO DRAGONS IN HUMAN CARE GLOBALLY AND 94 IN THE US. SURPRISE!

"It was such a crazy experience; just because of the number of things that had to happen, it seemed like the stars aligned for us to find these dragons."

-Stephen

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On Thursday, August 18, to the disbelief of our animal husbandry team, two Komodo dragon babies emerged from an underground egg chamber in the exhibit. Despite our vigilance looking for buried nests during the breeding season, we never found any.

What made this discovery even more incredible was the timing: the babies appeared on a day we typically did not do exhibit maintenance. Thankfully, one of our herpetology staff happened to be in the exhibit when the baby lizards dug out. Our animal care staff was in the right place at right time!

The animal care staff quickly called for assistance while securing the two hatchling dragons. Our team then began carefully excavating the egg chamber by hand, hoping to find other animals or unhatched eggs. After an hour of digging, a total of 18 eggs were recovered. While none of the unhatched eggs were viable, we already had the "two prizes from the bottom of the cereal box." The husbandry staff and veterinary team also began to evaluate the condition of the hatchlings.

Both animals were weighed and given thorough visual examinations before being placed in temporary habitats. Over the next several days, the hatchlings drank water and began eating without hesitation and, a few days later, the young pair of hatchlings were moved to their more permanent home.

While we do not know exactly what the future will hold for these two Komodo dragon babies, they will remain Jude’s legacy, and for that, we’re thankful.

Top: Immediately after their discovery, staff began documenting their length and weight while prepping their temporary home.

Bottom: Juvenile Komodos dragons are tree-dwelling for the first year of their life, so they blend in with leaf patterns.

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PROGRAM& EVENTS GUIDE DECEMBER - FEBRUARY 2017 | DETACH AND KEEP FOR QUICK REFERENCE

SPECIAL EVENTS Special events are free with admission, unless otherwise noted.

Changing Exhibit: Treehouses Through January 1, 2017

Countdown to 2017

Dragon Day

December 31 | 11am–1pm

January 14 &15 | 11am–3pm

Children and adults get ready for the New Year! Join us for contests, games, activities and treats in the Marsh Pavilion.

MARSH PAVILION

Whether your favorite dragon is a Komodo or Puff the Magic Dragon, we will be celebrating them all on Dragon Day! Meet our Komodo dragon keepers and try your hand at some famous dragon trivia.

BAY & OCEAN PAVILION

Spend some time hanging out in the trees! Immerse yourself in an indoor tree house and learn who lives in trees through stereoscopic viewfinders, tracking clues, natural artifacts, and sound.

CHANGING EXHIBIT GALLERY

Extreme Experiments February 11 & 12 | 11am–3pm Join us for “Extreme Experiments” where kids and adults get to be a scientist for a day! Aquarium guests can learn fun and mysterious experiments that they can also do at home with a few simple supplies.

BAY & OCEAN PAVILION

SCUBA Santa Saturdays & Sundays through December 24 | 11am Watch Santa dive with resident sea life like zebra sharks and spotted eagle rays.

RED SEA AQUARIUM

Sundays with Santa December 4, 11, 18 | 12–3pm Join Santa and his elves for festivities and fun activities.

MARSH PAVILION

Donuts & Cocoa with Santa MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE December 11 & 18 | 8:30–10am Enjoy donuts and cocoa, snap a photo, and visit with our very jolly special guest!

Holiday craft stations and other activities will be available. Children under one are free. Reservations required.

Call (757) 385-385-3474.

E-Cycling January 28 | 9am–1pm This semi-annual event gives you the opportunity to recycle your old electronics.

Visit our website for a list of items accepted.

EAST PARKING LOT

Volunteer Open House January 19 | 4–5:30pm Are you interested in volunteering with the Virginia Aquarium? Join representatives from Aquarium departments to learn about all of the exciting opportunities.

BAY & OCEAN PAVILION

$6 Parents| $12 Kids MARSH PAVILION

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Valentine’s Day Dinner February 11 & 14 | 7pm Treat your valentine to one of the most exclusive experiences in Hampton Roads.

Be one of only a few couples to enjoy a three course meal in front of sharks, sea turtles, or in our Red Sea Tunnel. Reservations required. Please call (757) 385-0306 to make your reservation.

$189 per person BAY & OCEAN PAVILION

YOUTH PROGRAMS

BEHIND THE SCENES SEA ADVENTURES

These specially designed programs help encourage life long learning. Free with admission unless otherwise noted.

Go beyond the Aquarium glass for a closer look. Reservations required by noon the day of the program. Book online or call (757) 385-FISH. Some age and height restrictions apply. Must be able to climb stairs.

Virginia Aquarium boat trips engage adults, families and student groups in coastal marine ecology by providing opportunities to observe dolphins, whales, and other marine life in their natural habitat. Sightings not guaranteed.

Sea Turtles

Whales & Wildlife

Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 1pm

December–March

Toddler Tuesdays Every Tuesday | 10am, 11am & 12:30pm Bring your little ones for this ageappropriate program that includes story time, songs, and activities.

MARSH PAVILION

Toddler Trek Every Thursday | 10am & 11am Join us for an exploration session for early learners to discover a new animal, color, and shape through fun outdoor activities. Takes place inside during inclement weather.

MARSH PAVILION

Go above the Chesapeake Light Tower Aquarium to observe aquarists conducting a feeding and behavioral training session with the sea turtles. 45 minutes.

$15 Members | $20 Non-members BAY & OCEAN PAVILION

$26 Members | $28 Non-members AQUARIUM BOAT DOCK

Sailing with Santa December 17 | 10:30 am & 12pm Set sail with Santa and his crew on a 60 minute cruise along Owls Creek while enjoying refreshments and festive activities. Call 757-385-FISH for reservations.

Puppet Shows December 20, January 17, February 21 10am, 11am & 12:30pm On the third Tuesday of every month, our Toddler Tuesday features a live-action puppet show to accompany our story time.

MARSH PAVILION

S.T.E.A.M.

Join us for a 2–2.5 hour immersive encounter to search for some of the ocean’s most magnificent creatures that visit Virginia’s coastal winter waters: whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds!

$12 Members | $15 Non-members AQUARIUM BOAT DOCK

Above & Beyond

December 14, 28; January 11, 25; February 8, 22 | 3:30–4:30pm

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday | 12:30pm

Geared for ages 2–7 and focused on integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. During each program, early learners will create a piece of art that allows them to explore, investigate and understand scientific concepts. Reservations required. Call (757) 385–0310 or email jlhill@ virginiaaquarium.com to register.

$15 Members | $20 Non-members

Tour selected service areas for a peek at the “inner workings” of a public aquarium and find out how we care for our fish and other marine animals. 45 minutes.

BAY & OCEAN PAVILION

$5 Members, $7 Non-members MARSH PAVILION

Changing Exhbit: Ocean Bound January 14, 2017 through May 14, 2017 Embark on a journey through watersheds to see how everyone's actions on land affect our ocean. What can you do in your watershed to protect our ocean? Find out in this fun new changing exhibit!

CHANGING EXHIBIT GALLERY

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JUST FOR KIDS

ES L T R U T A SE Family Activity How does the throat of a sea turtle work?

Set-up:

When a sea turtle opens its mouth to eat, not only does food enter its mouth, but also saltwater. The sea turtle releases the extra saltwater by re-opening its mouth. Sea turtles have a special adaptation to make sure the food isn't released too. Let’s learn how a sea turtle’s throat works.

Cut the 15 cotton swabs in half and set aside. Next punch 15 evenly spaced holes in two lines along the top rim of the toilet paper roll tube. Then, label the top of the toilet paper roll “mouth” and the bottom “stomach.” Place two cotton swabs in each hole, inserting the cut ends of the cotton swabs into the hole first. The cut ends of the cotton swabs should hang down at an angle within the toilet paper roll. After inserting all the cotton swabs, wrap the outer rim of the toilet paper roll with packing tape or duct tape to hold the cotton swabs in place. While wrapping, be careful to make sure the cotton swabs remain pointing down at a slight angle. Now, push the plastic grocery bag through the “mouth” of the toilet paper roll and pull it 2/3 of the way through the roll into the “stomach.” Next, try pulling the plastic bag out of the mouth.

What You’ll Need Toilet Paper Roll Tube Hole Puncher Plastic Grocery Bag Scissors 15 cotton swabs Permanent marker Packing Tape or Duct Tape

DIDYO KNOW

U ?

What Happened?

The toilet paper roll represents the throat of a sea turtle. The cotton swabs represent the papillae, specialized structures inside a sea turtles throat. The plastic bag represents a jelly, a common food for sea turtles. The papillae are sharp and pointy structures. The papillae keep food items from exiting the turtle’s mouth when it re-opens its mouth to release extra saltwater.

The scales on a turtle’s shell are called scutes.

Sometimes they do accidentally drink saltwater. When they do, they get rid of the salt through a special salt gland behind each eye.

Mac, where are the bowls of water for the sea turtles?

I know we can't drink saltwater.

Can they?

Well Charlie, sea turtles get their fresh water from their food.

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Close-Up Tammy Long

Big Kisses

Jessica Winbauer

Henry

Sarah Finger

Making Waves Heather Walker

FAN PHOTOS SEND US YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE AQUARIUM

The top picks will be included in VAQ. Send a max of 3 high resolution jpeg files to VAQmag@VirginiaAquarium. com. Sending photos grants the Virginia Aquarium the right to use the photos in promotional materials. Please limit attachments to 10MB per email.

Bold & Red

WINTER 2017 | VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY 15 Stephanie Rameriz

EXPERT Q & A

ALEXANDER COSTIDIS, PH.D Stranding Program Coordinator What do you do for the Aquarium?

I have a variety of duties ranging from managing grant budgets and writing grant proposals to supervising field response to stranded marine animals. Luckily, our staff and volunteers are extremely dedicated and very competent, making my job easy.

What is an average day like?

One of the great things about my job is that “average” is not a term I use often. One moment I will be working at my desk, the next we will be rescuing a sea turtle or examining a 60 ton whale. Marine animal strandings don’t follow schedules, so we are always prepared for our plans to change.

What do you like best about your work and why?

That is a tough one. I think the most rewarding part is finding out what is impacting animals. It is, of course, satisfying to nurse animals back to health, but as conservation scientists many of us seek out the most impactful activities than can contribute to conservation of species. That often means trying to identify and mitigate the greatest human threats to a species’ survival.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Our constant exposure to the adverse impacts of human activities on wildlife would top the list. I have seen hundreds of injured or deceased animals that have ingested trash, have been struck by watercraft, or been entangled in fishing gear.

It can be a hard pill to swallow. The occasional impassioned citizen that accuses us of not doing enough or caring enough can also be challenging to put into perspective.

What advice would you offer to someone interested in this career?

Gain experience through volunteering or internships! It is the best way to figure out what you like and don’t like, and it makes you much more marketable in a field with a lot of competition. It is a small community so don’t burn bridges.

Never just watch somebody work. Expect to work hard, cry hard, and laugh hard.

Alex leads our Stranding Response Program for marine mammal or sea turtle strandings on Virginia shorelines.

Here he examines a newborn sperm whale that stranded in Sandbridge, Virginia Beach in September.

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STRANDING

RISING ABOVE

BY ALEXA N DER COSTI DI S

One of the most recognizable Stranding Response stories in recent memory is Boise Boysenberry, the female loggerhead sea turtle that was rescued by the Aquarium’s Stranding Response Program in October 2011.

Boise was initially reported to us by the Navy crew of the U.S.S. Boise after sustaining a serious watercraft injury. She had a broken left front flipper and a devastating propeller injury to the rear portion of her top shell. Boise’s initial treatments included antibiotic and fluid therapy, nutritional support, and extensive wound care, and her caretakers also performed physical therapy on her affected flippers. As a result of her injuries, Boise was diagnosed with a destructive bone disease: osteomyelitis. It was identified in her damaged front flipper, and surgery was performed to remove dead bone.

Despite months of progress with her wounds, Boise exhibited buoyancy problems and partial paralysis in both rear flippers.

Based on these conditions, she was deemed non-releasable.

After several additional months of continued buoyancy problems, two 15 ounce weights were attached to the rear portions of her carapace, significantly improving Boise’s ability to dive and maintain the right posture in the water. Although she still appears unable to use her rear flippers, she is active with both front flippers and is now a capable swimmer.

In preparation for her new life in human care, Boise has been target trained, allowing staff in her permanent home to provide the necessary care and nutrition. Despite having only grown about two inches in length in the past 5 years, Boise has nearly doubled her weight under the constant care of the volunteers and staff of the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Program. While the stated goal of the program is to rehabilitate marine animals so that they may be returned to the wild and help mitigate human impacts on the environment, we expect that Boise will be a valuable environmental spokesperson, inspiring people with her strength for survival and educating them about the challenges marine animals face.

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Holiday Movie Favorites RETURN TO THE BIG SCREEN

December 3 Elf 10 The Wizard of Oz 3D 17 It’s A Wonderful Life

7:50pm | $5 Members | $7 Non-members

Hello, Savings!

LOCALS ONLY $10 OFF EACH ADULT AQUARIUM ADMISSION

MON-FRI | JANUARY 1-31, 2017 For details, visit VirginiaAquarium.com

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FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER Purchase or renew your membership & receive a 40% off coupon good for Aquarium store purchases or future memberships.

Coupon received with membership cards

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Dennis & Norma Meligonis

BY S H AW N R E I D

Dennis and Norma Meligonis began their volunteer service with the Aquarium three years ago. Norma, a retired teacher, visited the Aquarium annually on field trips. During those trips, she decided that when she retired, she would become a docent here. Norma also encouraged her husband, Dennis, to volunteer with us! Dennis, a retired engineer, has been invaluable in our behind the scenes areas.

Norma volunteers as a docent, an onsite education program assistant, and she helps with special events. As a docent, she mentors new volunteers and takes a special interest in our junior docents.

Dennis brings a high level of expertise to the life support team. He has created a master manual of all the Aquarium’s electrical panels, a logout-tagout log book, database, and wall unit for lockout/tagout masters.

Norma and Dennis are all about supporting their community.

When they’re not at the Aquarium or participating in all the other volunteer activities, you can find Norma reading a good book and Dennis enjoying his favorite ice cream.

For information about volunteering, call (757) 385-0274 or visit www.VirginiaAquarium.com/volunteer

Volunteer Open House

VO L U N T E E R O P E N H O U S E

January 19, 2017 4 – 5:30pm

Meet in the Classroom at the Bay & Ocean Pavilion to learn how you can become a volunteer with us!

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CONSERVATION

RAISING THE BAR ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

BY MARK SWI N G LE

The Virginia Aquarium is developing a new animal conservation center to support its mission of education, research, and sustainable practices.

Thanks to the generous support of the Joshua P. and Elizabeth D. Darden Foundation, the new 18,000 sq.ft., state-of-the-art facility will be named the Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center. The Darden Center, scheduled to be completed in 2019, will provide new facilities, specialized equipment, and resources to support Aquarium operations, including outreach education, aquatic animal collection, marine animal stranding response, and research. A joint project of the Virginia Aquarium Foundation and City of Virginia Beach, the Darden Center will be designed and constructed to meet green building standards and achieve LEED certification.

The Darden Center will serve a vitally important research and conservation role for the state. It will house the Aquarium’s nationally-recognized Research and Stranding Response Programs, which operate the state’s marine mammal and sea turtle stranding networks. Strandings provide data on the health of the marine environment and the biology, ecology, and life history of marine mammal and sea turtle species. Through stranding response, threats to marine animal health can be proactively identified.

The Darden Center will also serve as a resource for response to environmental disasters, such as the mid-Atlantic bottlenose dolphin mortality event that tallied more than 160 dolphin deaths in Virginia from 2013-14. Events like this can overwhelm the state and regional network without trained responders and adequate resources. The center will be designed to provide response, recovery, and rehabilitation services for marine mammals and sea turtles potentially affected by such events.

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The Darden Center will include new technology unavailable in our current location.

Additional space will be key during environmental disasters and cold-stun events.

Finally, the Darden Center will provide science and technology support for Aquarium research staff. Researchers are currently involved in projects that support state protected species recovery plans, Naval operations, marine spatial planning for offshore wind energy development, and natural resource management. This new animal conservation center will truly raise the bar for environmental stewardship in the city, state, and mid-Atlantic region.

SUPPORT

Kathy regularly volunteers with the Stranding Response Team. She plays a key role in our Pier Partner Program.

WHY WE GIVE

W I T H T H E O ’ H A R A FA M I LY: K AT H Y, TO M , K AT I E & TJ

Why do we give? We really feel it’s more like giving back. As lifetime members, our family’s experiences have been enriched in so many ways by Aquarium opportunities: We’ve used our boat as a platform for the Annual Dolphin Count, feasted on Sensible Seafood, and supported many a Golf Classic - all in the name of marine conservation with the Virginia Aquarium.

O’Hara Family Favorite Exhibits: Norfolk Canyon & Light Tower We dive as a family and those large aquariums just make us feel at home!

As summer docents, our children, Katie and TJ, spent several summers learning about the Aquarium exhibits and sharing their knowledge with Photo credit: Davis Sarrett visitors. Our daughter was so inspired by the Stranding Response Program she created the first “Trash Talking Turtle” as part of her high school environmental club. And a series of books researched and written by my daughter and her fellow girl scouts as their senior Girl Scout Gold Award Project are currently sold in the Aquarium store. "Stranded: Real Life Stories of Marine Animal Strandings." The entire purchase prince of these books goes to the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program.

After nearly 30 years, I will be forever grateful to the Stranding Program for providing us the opportunity to continue learning and contributing to the protection of marine mammals, sea turtles, and the overall health of marine ecosystems.

GIVING IS EASY & EVERY GIFT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE THERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO GIVE:

1 Visit VirginiaAquarium.com/SavetheOcean 2 Text OCEAN to 243725 3 Call 757-385-0262 4 Mail donations to: Virginia Aquarium, Attn: Development 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA 23451

EVERY GIFT COUNTS!

$15 $35 $55

Gives us one vial of antibiotics Gives us 33 pounds of herring Gives us 30 pounds of squid

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THANK YOU! Contributions from July 2016 – September 2016

ANNUAL FUND Beverly Baird Jason Baker Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union Corneliu Bodea Combined Federal Campaign of Greater SOCAL Combined Federal Campaign of South Hampton Roads Fraim Family Foundation Ian P. Goodwin Lisa & Donald Grigolite Ellen Guidry Sanci M. Hall Ellen Keeter In honor of Dick & Elly Mladick Rendy Adams Norfolk Southern Corporate Trust Richard H. Puckett Pure Paradise Water of Virginia Beach Rev. & Mrs. Robert J. Robertson, III Ryanne Roulo Steven Shkreli Nicholas Smith TRUiST

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY GIVING AT

www.VirginiaAquarium.com/SaveTheOcean

United Way South Hampton Roads Verizon Foundation Chip Wilkinson AQUAPALS ADOPTIONS Samaranda Bodea Amanda Duffy Peyton Grabowski Ramona-Grace Grigolite Alex Guidry Claire Guidry Lily Guidry Tammy Johnson Elli McPherson EDUCATION Michael Fine Gerald C. Jaffe Richard H. Puckett Susanna Skovgaard Wells Fargo Foundation

RESEARCH/CONSERVATION Anonymous Donations Kathy Browning Chanello’s Pizza Donald Davis Wendy Healey Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Lynnhaven Middle School O'Connor Brewing Rosaura Paredessuarez In memory of Pamela Parker Allan Parker Erick Pinzon Shady Grove United Methodist Church Starbucks In honor of Jennifer Vaughan Harmony Sullivan Tim Wheeler Thomas & Maria Whitaker

EXHIBITS John M. Aguiar John A. Brown Kit Hayden Angelina Howard Eric Seeland

GIVING TREE Our animals love presents too! Visit our Amazon Wish List for some unique ideas.

bit.ly/VAQWishList

M U I R A U Q A A I N VIRGI EVENT

G N I L C E-CY

E C YC L I N G

PM 1 – M A | 9 , 2017 P A R K I N G L O T 8 2 Y R A U JAN EAST , VA UARIUM IA BEACH Q N I A G R A I I V N , LV D VIRGI BOOTH B RAL 717 GENE

F O R D E TA I L S , V I S I T VIRGINIAAQUARIUM.COM

VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER February 11 & 14 | 7pm | $189 per person Treat your valentine to one of the most exclusive experiences in Hampton Roads. Enjoy a three course meal in front of sharks, sea turtles, or in our Red Sea Tunnel.

Reservations required. Visit VirginiaAquarium.com to make your reservation.

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717 GENERAL BOOTH BLVD VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23451 (757) 385-FISH VirginiaAquarium.com A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA AQUARIUM & MARINE SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATION

Postmaster: Please deliver by December 31, 2016

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums, and World Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

NEW CHANGING EXHIBIT

OCEAN BOUND

JANUARY 14-MAY 14, 2017 24

Embark on a journey through watersheds to see how everyone's actions on land affect our ocean. What can you do in your watershed to protect our ocean?

VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY | WINTER 2017