Note: Unless otherwise noted all images, gifs and videos are not mine and belong to their respective parties.
Jam It In Your In-Box (Graduate School Blog)
Peter Pan is my spirit animal.
Dinosaur is my patronus.
Music Album Downloads
Love Letters to Europe
TAG IT: Discover Street Art Project
M'illumino D'immenso
Chaz Bundick (a.k.a. Toro y Moi) discusses chillwave, California and how his parents introduced him to music on today’s All Things Considered. He also shares one of his favorite songs from his new album Anything in Return — it’s called “Say That.”
Will you give a small (or large) amount to help save Adobe Books?
Adobe Books in San Francisco is a treasured space for the city’s creative community, and it’s currently facing a major challenge. They’ve launched a campaign to try and save the store. Learn more here!
I love when my dad surprises me with random photos of home. #california #nostalgia #sunny #californialove
A Stop in Ostrichland
Want to see more photos of Ostrichland? Visit the location page.
Just outside of Solvang, in Central California, 50 ostriches eagerly await visitors day in and day out at Ostrichland. Ostriches are native to Africa, can run up to 45 miles per hour, and weigh between 250 and 350 lbs. The Browns, a husband and wife team, have run the unique farm for two decades. Visitors are invited to feed the bizarre creatures and can take home their fresh, giant ostrich eggs.
Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California
Portrait of My Father (1972-79)
Stephen Kaltenbach
A Look at Our “Largest Exhibit”
The recent sighting of a pod of orcas created quite a stir here at the Aquarium. So we wondered: What else can you expect to see off our decks? To find out, we asked the folks who know best: our expert guide staff. They’re fond of telling people that the bay is the largest and most dynamic exhibit at the Aquarium!
It’s common to see seals, sea lions, sea otters and pelicans, but below are a few species you might not expect. Of course, we can’t guarantee what you’ll see. It’s nature, after all!
Humpback whales: Here through October as they follow krill and baitfish around the bay.
Blue whales: First sightings just reported (late May)! Gone by early September.
Orcas: Can be seen any time, but more often from whale-watching boats than from our decks. The recent pod was the first seen from the Aquarium in many years!
Risso’s dolphins: Can be seen all year—often jumping clear of the water! They follow squid, so if squid fishing boats are around, watch for Risso’s.
Pelagic cormorants: These birds are starting to fledge their young right under our decks. Juveniles are brown instead of shiny black, and don’t quite know how to fly yet. They make clumsy attempts, then climb back up to their nests and sulk!
Pigeon guillemots: These birds lay eggs under our decks at this time of year and are here until late August. The entire community seems to fledge their young on one night, then leave by the time we arrive the next morning!
Western gulls: We currently have a nest, with eggs, on the ledge outside our restaurant. It will be entertaining to watch the chicks develop and fledge.
You might also see other whales (blue, minke) and dolphins (bottlenose, white-sided, common). Our staff has even seen bald eagles, horned puffins, deer (under the deck), raccoons (on the deck), herons (fishing in the Coastal Stream exhibit), an elephant seal (in the Great Tide Pool) and even an enormous basking shark.
We’d like to know: how many species have you seen off our decks?
Can’t make it to the Aquarium? Check out our live cam!
And I suddenly miss home.
Out-of-state colleges entice Californians: As budget cuts plague the UC and Cal State systems, colleges in nearby states put more effort into attracting students from California.
Sunset Cliffs - San Diego, CA
Taken February 8, 2012
