Events

HELP US NAME OUR NEW OCTOPUS

Contest Ends December 31, 2009

One of the most popular features of the HMSC Visitor Center is our Giant Pacific Octopus exhibit.  The eight-armed resident of this tank only lives at the Visitor Center for about 6-8 months before we release it back into the sea, and bring in a newer, smaller octopus to take its place.

Help us name our new Visitor Center octopus by submitting your suggestions!  The chosen name will be drawn on December 31st, and the winner notified.  If your name is chosen, you will be our guest at "Octopus Day" on January 9, 2010, where you will have your picture taken with the new octopus and receive a special prize.

BACK WING TOURS

Sundays, 11 am

Discover how aquarists care for our marine animal collection by
joining a free ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the animal health wing at the HMSC Visitor Center. Every Sunday at 11 am, graduate student aquarist Michael Liu will lead visitors to the quarantine, holding, medical, teaching, and research areas of the West Wing. Take this opportunity to interact with aquarists and ask questions about the animals and HMSC’s life-support systems. To participate in this 35-minute tour, please meet at the octopus tank in the Visitor Center.

LCSWCD STREAM TABLE

November, 2009

Explore stream dynamics with the interactive stream table on loan from the Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District, and discover firsthand how structures can be used to alter erosion patterns.  Investigate how riprap affects erosion, learn how culverts work, and see whether straight or curvy streams provide better fish habitat.  Roll up your sleeves and experiment!

The stream table will be in operation at various times during the day in the Visitor Center.  To make sure the table is staffed during your group's visit, please call ahead so we can prepare for your arrival:  541-867-0226.  There is no extra charge.

COMING UP

WHALE WATCH WEEK

Dec. 26, 2009 - Dec. 31, 2009

During Whale Watch Week, thousands of Oregonians and visitors from all over flock to the Oregon Coast to look for gray whales making their annual southward migration to the waters off Baja California, where baby whales are born. Trained volunteers are stationed at state parks up and down the coast to offer tips on spotting the big mammals.  

Here at the HMSC Visitor Center, we will have special programming every day of Whale Watch Week.  At 1:00pm, see our public demonstrations on feeding behavior of giant Pacific octopus or wolf eels.  Then at 1:30pm, attend a marine mammal program in Hennings Auditorium featuring hands-on whale biofacts such as baleen and skulls.  Come visit our marine mammal displays and exhibits, see a marine mammal video in the auditorium, and keep up with local gray whale sightings by checking our posted lists.  We're open daily from 10 am - 4 pm Saturday through Thursday of Whale Watch Week (closed New Year's Day).

Whale Watching Spoken Here Volunteer training will take place at HMSC on December 5 and 6.  To register for training, go to the Oregon State Parks' Whale Watching Spoken Here website. 

For more information about gray whales and their migration patterns, download the free Sea Grant publication Gray Whales:

• English version: [.pdf] [HTML]
• Spanish version: [.pdf] [HTML]

RECENT EVENTS

GREAT WHITE SHARK NECROPSY, Oct. 1-2, 2009:

• Photos
• Short Video (courtesy of OSU News and Communications)

Coming soon:  The 6 hours of footage taken at the shark dissection
will be distilled down to a shorter version and posted on this website.