Don't Miss the Latest News from Birch Aquarium
News Releases
2023
May 16, 2023: Birch Aquarium Is Making a Splash with New Seasonal Offerings this Summer
The aquarium will be open until 7 p.m. from May 28 through Labor Day.
April 18, 2023: Birch Aquarium Announces Two Weekends of Earth Day Celebrations
Enjoy live music, a community art project and science stations on April 22-23 and
29-30!
April 6, 2023: Local Students Experience On-the-Water Field Trip in Seaport Climate Science Program
Educators from Birch Aquarium and San Diego Unified Lead Pilot Program To Inform Design of Future Seaport Learning Center
March 15, 2023: Get Ready to Party: Birch Aquarium Celebrates Earth Day with Fun, Family-Friendly Event
Enjoy live music, a community art project and science stations on April 22-23 and 29-30!
March 7, 2023: 2023 Summer Camp Registration Is Now Open at Birch Aquarium!
Summer camps promote ocean exploration, science and adventure.
March 3, 2023: Birch Aquarium Welcomes Baby Weedy Seadragons
More than 70 seadragons are thriving behind the scenes.
January 9, 2023: Birch Aquarium Announces Pregnant Weedy Seadragon
A rare egg transfer was made last night, marking the first time eggs have been transferred in the Seadragons & Seahorses habitat.
2022
December 2, 2022: Oceans at Night Tickets Now Available
Birch Aquarium’s new monthly event for 21+ kicks off January 26.
November 29, 2022: From Sea to Shore: Peer into the Captivating World of Tidepools
Birch Aquarium kicks off Tidepooling Adventures January 7, 2023.
November 17, 2022: Bioluminescence, Biofluorescence, and Underwater Acoustics: Birch Aquarium Launches Oceans at Night
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is launching Oceans at Night, a first-of-its-kind event that invites a 21+ audience to experience an immersive blend of art, science and technology after hours.
November 15, 2022: Birch Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo Join Forces to Bolster the Little Blue Penguins Population in the United States
Five Little Blue Penguins from Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego embarked on a 2,000-mile cross-country move to Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The move is part of an international Species Survival Plan (SSP) that works to maintain the genetic diversity of certain species in zoos and aquariums.
September 15, 2022: Explore the Iconic Scripps Pier at Sunset with a Naturalist from Birch Aquarium
Starting this fall, outdoor enthusiasts will once again have the rare opportunity to experience breathtaking sunsets while taking a stroll on the iconic Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier as part of the 2022-2023 Outdoor Adventures programming at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
August 3, 2022: Three New Ways to Celebrate Little Blue Penguins at Birch Aquarium
Following on the heels of the July 12 opening of Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is launching three exciting new ways for guests to celebrate Little Blue Penguins: a Behind-the-Scenes Penguin Tour, a Live Penguin Cam, and a renovated Gift Shop with exclusive Little Blue Penguins merchandise.
July 12, 2022: Little Blue Penguins Make San Diego Debut at Birch Aquarium
Made possible with philanthropic support from the Beyster Family, the new exhibit brings the world’s smallest penguins to the West Coast for the first time.
June 3, 2022: Meet Azulito! Birch Aquarium Announces Winning Little Blue Penguin Name!
This morning Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego officially named one of its Little Blue Penguins.
May 19, 2022: Big [Little] News: Birch Aquarium Announces Opening Date for Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins
The new habitat opens July 12, 2022.
May 16, 2022: Vote Now to Help Birch Aquarium Name a Penguin
Birch Aquarium opens the polls for the public to vote on the final name for one of its Little Blue Penguins.
16 de Mayo, 2022: Acuario Birch abre votación para elegir nombre de pingüino azul
Hay cinco opciones para nombrar al pequeño pingüino azul y la votación estará abierta hasta el 29 de mayo.
April 25, 2022: Waddle Be His Name?
Birch Aquarium needs the public’s help to name one of its Little Blue Penguins.
25 de Abril, 2022: Acuario Birch invita al público a elegir nombre para uno de sus pingüinos azules
March 15, 2022: A Pacific Footballfish Touches Down at Birch Aquarium!
This deep-sea specimen will be on display at the aquarium from Mar. 25 to Apr. 24, 2022.
March 9, 2022: Summer Camps Return to Birch Aquarium
Registration is now open for 2022 Summer Camps.
2021
Sept 14, 2021: We Have Big News and It's Little!
Birch Aquarium will open Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins next summer.
Sept 10, 2021: Pier Walks are Back at Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium is re-launching tours of the Ellen Browning Scripps Pier, which is typically closed to the public.
March 8, 2021: Birch Aquarium Welcomes New COO, Charles Hopper
The former senior manager of business operations for the Seattle Aquarium will help lead Birch Aquarium into the future.
February 22, 2021: Birch Aquarium Reopening Outdoors-Only
The aquarium will open to members on February 26, to the general public February 27.
February 10, 2021: Birch Aquarium Celebrates Baby Weedy Seadragons’ First Birthdays
Celebration includes launch of a live Seadragon Cam, a new online store, and a live talk with seadragon curator.
2020
Birch Aquarium Adds Outdoor Activities, Will Remain Open
Guests are invited to explore and get hands-on in new outdoor activities and exhibits for a discounted ticket price.
Birch Aquarium is Reopening!
Public opening is July 4, with member preview days July 1-3, 2020
Birch Aquarium Closes to Public Beginning March 12
The temporary closure is an effort to help stop the communal spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Baby Dragons Hatched at Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium successfully breeds rare Weedy Seadragon for the first time.
2019
“Shell-ebrate” Five Years with Birch Aquarium’s Sea Turtle
Celebration commemorates Loggerhead’s inspirational story of survival.
Whale Watching Kicks off Adventure on the High Seas
Birch Aquarium and Flagship Cruises and events kick off their 20th season with a splash
Birch Aquarium’s New Tours Take Guests Behind the Scenes for the First Time
Birch Aquarium’s new behind-the-scenes tour immerse guests into the world of seahorse conservation
Birch Aquarium Aligns All Classes to National Next Generation Science Standards
All of Birch Aquarium’s Discovery Lab programs for Kindergarten through grade 12 are now aligned with the national standards.
Celebrate 20 Years of Spooky Science at Haunted Aquarium
Birch Aquarium’s family-friendly Halloween event expands to three nights for 20th anniversary.
Toddler Time Kicks-Off New Season at Birch Aquarium
Popular children's series featuring music, art, yoga, and more kicks-off September 11 and continues every
Seadragons & Seahorses Opens at Birch Aquarium
New permanent exhibition features one of the largest seadragon habitats in the world
Eggstravaganza at Birch Aquarium
Hop Hop Splash! Scuba Bunny dives in to celebrate spring
Birch Aquarium Offers Camp Financial Aid
The aquarium hopes to inspire all future ocean stewards through Summer Learning Adventure Camp
Whale Fest Makes A Big Splash
New event celebrates whales and their charismatic cousins at the height of whale watching season
Birch Aquarium to Participate in Museums for All
Birch Aquarium is the second aquarium to participate in nationwide program that makes museums and cultural attractions available to all.
2018
New Exhibition Strives to Save Seadragons
Birch Aquarium’s newest venture will feature one of the largest seadragon habitats in the world.
Bam! Pow! Splash! Birch Aquarium Opens Comic-Inspired Exhibit
Oddities: Hidden Heroes of the Scripps Collections Highlights the astonishing adaptations (aka superpowers) of ocean species.
Saving Coral Reefs One Video at a Time
Students from Kearny High School have teamed up with Birch Aquarium to create videos that promote conservation locally and globally.
Eggstravaganza at Birch Aquarium
Hop! Hop! Splash! Celebrate spring with Scuba Bunny.
Listening for Fish Conversations in the Kelp Forest
Birch Aquarium is testing a new ocean conservation tool used to identify sound-producing fish.
2017
Brace Yourself — 3D Technology Helps Sea Turtle Thrive
Birch Aquarium teamed up with the UC San Diego Library’s Digital Media Lab to 3-D print a brace for its Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Birch Aquarium Announces 2017 Green Flash Lineup
Annual concert series is the ultimate Southern California music experience.
A Grandfather’s Wish to Share the Sea
Bequest from longtime Birch Aquarium member Eugene Swantz supports Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Art Installation Takes Living Light to Infinity
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is launching the Infinity Cube, a new, immersive installation that explores bioluminescence.
2016
Holiday Night Lights Celebration 2016
Let it glow, let it glow, Let it glow! Birch Aquarium Celebrates the holidays with nature's living lights.
Expedition at Sea: R/V Sally Ride Gallery Opens
This immersive new exhibit brings guests closer to cutting edge research.