News archives

Two Birch Aquarium staff members hold a KultureCity Sensory Bag

Birch Aquarium is KultureCity Certified!

Two mountain yellow-legged frogs rest on lush green vegetation in their habitat, their golden-hued legs contrasting against the foliage.

Birch Aquarium Leaps Into Frog Conservation

The aquarium joins collaborative effort to save the endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog.

a large brown and white bird sits on a tree branch; its wings are darker brown with blue speckles

Birch Aquarium Welcomes Animal Ambassadors

These animals play a key role in conservation outreach and education.

A detailed rendering of a vibrant new coral habitat that will be featured in Living Seas

Birch Aquarium’s Much-Anticipated Living Seas Opening May 22

New exhibition takes guests on an unforgettable journey through the Pacific Ocean

A little blue penguin swims underwater beneath a floating basketball in its habitat.

March of the Meatloaf

Help Birch Aquarium win Penguins International’s 2025 March of the Penguin Madness Tournament

Three campers wearing Birch Aquarium green and blue rash guards and snorkel gear stand in front of the ocean

Make a splash with Birch Aquarium’s Summer Camps!

The popular summer camps promote ocean exploration, science and adventure.

Entrance to Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen with the credit wall on the left and the title on the right

PST ART Climate Impact Report: Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen at Birch Aquarium

Embodied Pacific is a distributed, multi-sited exhibition with seven locations on and around the University of California San Diego campus, one site of which is Birch Aquarium at Scripps.

an aquarist feeds Tongue Corals at Birch Aquarium

Caring for Animals During Construction

A couple enjoys a cocktail while posing for a photo, both wearing pink sunglasses that read "Oceans of Love." Hand-drawn hearts are playfully scattered throughout the image.

Five Fun Valentine Ideas to Celebrate Love Under the Sea

Guests view Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen installation Superradiance. Embodying Earth.

Lecture Series Highlights Art & Science

2025 Perspectives on Ocean Science Lectures to spotlight Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen exhibition

Aerial image of Birch Aquarium and Scripps Pier.

A Celebratory Year for Birch Aquarium

Reflecting on 2024’s Milestones and Looking Ahead

An overhead view of Blue Beach at Birch Aquarium shows people attending Indigenous Ocean Day 2024 including a tule boat building station

First-ever Indigenous Ocean Day at Birch Aquarium

A celebration of Indigenous people and ocean culture brought together local communities

A newly hatched Dwarf Seahorse is carefully collected and transferred into a specialized grow-out tank for its growth and development.

Tiny Tails: Raising Seahorses at Birch Aquarium

A selection of Birch Aquarium themed merchandise

Ocean-Loved Gifts, Staff-Approved Picks

Birch Aquarium’s Favorite Holiday Gift Recommendations from Our Team

Rendering of a vibrant mangrove habitat featured in the Living Seas exhibition.

Birch Aquarium Makes Moves from Hall of Fishes to Living Seas

New exhibition Living Seas is set to open next year with expanded habitats and upgraded life-support systems

Close-up of a Seahorse Hotel, an underwater structure designed to restore seahorse habitats. Four seahorses can be found holding onto the hotel with their prehensile tails.

The Best Exotic Seahorse Hotel

Birch Aquarium unveils underwater "Seahorse Hotel” to highlight ongoing seahorse conservation efforts.

Participants in Birch Aquarium's Tidepooling Adventures learn to respectfully navigate the intertidal zone

Adventure Outdoors During King Tides With Birch Aquarium

King Tides offer opportunities to learn about sea levels and intertidal habitats

Guests get up close view to a variety of corals, anemones and even tropical fish!

Coral is Cool! Five fun finds to discover in Coral Classroom.

a dancer in the Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen installation Superradiance. EmbodyingEarth. moves with the projected imagery on the wall behind

Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Oceanside Museum of Art Announce Membership Trade to Support PST ART Exhibitions in November

From November 1 - 30, OMA and Birch Aquarium Members will receive reciprocal membership access to PST ART: Art & Science Collide Exhibitions ‘Transformative Currents’ and ‘Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen’

costumed guests collect candy at a trick or treat station at Birch Aquarium

Halloween Aglow Lights Up Birch Aquarium

Halloween Aglow illuminates the wonders of the ocean after dark with family friendly fun

Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen logo overlaid on dark blue water

Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen at Birch Aquarium Merges Science and Art

Exhibition opening in October as part of Getty’s PST ART: Art and Science Collide initiative

guests interact with a Riveropolis installation, building small model boats that float down a winding model river

Birch Aquarium Announces New Guest Experiences for Fall

Riveropolis, the Coral Classroom and a Laughing Kookaburra to wow guests while Living Seas is being built.

A team of scientists during the oarfish necropsy. Photo: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

Fish Experts Study Rare Deep-Sea Oarfish in the Lab

Following necropsy, scientists learn more about biology of 12-foot oarfish that washed up in La Jolla Cove

rendering of two young guests looking up into an Octopus habitat

Birch Aquarium Announces Living Seas Transformation

Iconic Hall of Fishes to be reimagined into immersive Pacific Ocean experience

Little Blue Penguin Azulito stepping forward against a white backdrop

Birch Aquarium Announces the Passing of “Azulito”

Staff are mourning the loss of one of the aquarium’s favorite LIttle Blue Penguins.