Marine Mammal Institute: Second and Third Days

One of Discovery Place’s program specialists, Heather Heslep, spent part of August on the northern part of the East Coast on an adventure with the Marine Mammal Institute. This post the second in a series that follows her adventure as she learns more about marine mammals and climate change.

We started our day on Wednesday, August 10th at the LEED-certified Jennette’s Pier at Nag’s Head, a great spot for leisurely walks on the pier, fishing or just going to the beach. Three giant wind turbines strategically placed on the pier not only capture wind that can supply 50% of the electricity for the facility, but are aesthetically pleasing as well.

We also spent a portion of the day at the Virginia Aquarium, where Sue Barco, a lead researcher on dolphins, spoke about climate change and the significant impacts that humans have on marine mammals. Her research is widely published in peer-reviewed journals of marine mammalogy and physiology.

Thursday marked our Virginia Aquarium tour and Harbor Seal Encounter.
Did you know that seals have belly buttons, finger nails and really cool noses? Through an extensive voluntary training program aimed at improving medical care in captivity, these seals have become accustomed to tactile stimulation, or touch. So, you guessed it, I got to touch a harbor seal! Interacting with our group was considered ‘enrichment’ for the seal because it exposes it to all new sights and smells, but I think it was more enriching for the 18 educators!

Observing dolphins living in the wild is a truly fascinating experience. We next embarked on a journey up the Virginia Beach coastline aboard a research vessel with the Virginia Aquarium, observing a variety of species ranging from dolphins and jellies to dive-bombing pelicans grabbing their catch of the day. I was finding my sea legs while fixing my view on the horizon, and some folks were lucky enough to capture pictures of the dolphin’s dorsal fins as they peeked out of the water.

All of these wonder-filled experiences at the Virginia Aquarium convinced me that Virginia IS for lovers… of marine life!

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