December 2025 Aquarium Monthly Newsletter - During the holidays, seabirds dress down, king tides rise, and the deep sea glimmers with inspiration.
Aquarium updates
Seabirds rock winter looks
Most birds molt in winter, losing their feathers for more seasonally appropriate plumage. Our tufted puffins are named for their flashy breeding-season style complete with white, mohawk-like brows. But in winter they lose their tufts and bright colors, dressing down in all-black plumage. To celebrate these seasonal transformations, the aviculturists who care for the puffins in our Open Sea wing showed off their seabird-inspired outfits! They went on camera and modeled the differences between the tufted puffins and common murres we have on exhibit.
Winter brings the return of the king tides—those dramatic moments when we witness the highest highs and lowest lows on the California coast. As the water retreats at low tide, it reveals a once-hidden underwater wonderland: rocks draped in dense algae, shimmering seagrass, and tide pools teeming with curious creatures. The next king tides are from January 1 to 3 for those who wish to venture into the tide pools and see an entire world come to life at their feet. But the power of the ocean deserves our respect and caution—so always tidepool responsibly and keep a safe distance at high tide.
The Endangered Species Act is a key U.S. law that protects animals vulnerable to extinction. This legislation helps maintain biodiversity, promotes species recovery, and fosters balanced ecosystems over land, sea, and sky. As one of the first species listed under Endangered Species Act of 1973, California's iconic brown pelicans have fully recovered thanks to the law's legal conservation measures and restrictions on harmful human activity.
Right now, the Trump administration proposed changes to undermine the Endangered Species Act by fast-tracking development and sidestepping the scientific foundations that make the law so effective. Join the Aquarium and stand up for the future of wildlife and their irreplaceable habitats!
Join Monterey Bay Aquarium, MBARI, and FathomVerse as we cozy up to the ocean's hidden wonders with deep sea-inspired art prompts. Since the first of the month, #DeepSeaDecember has sparked inspiration in hundreds of ocean-loving artists. We've received cross-stitched eels, oil pastel snailfish, plankton sticky note doodles, fishy tattoos, and so many more deep-sea art pieces. We're accepting art submissions through the end of December, so there's plenty of time to dive right in and join the sea-lebration!
The holidays are almost here! Still shopping for the ocean lover in your life? Look no further than our gift memberships. Your loved ones will enjoy all the great benefits of being a member, including unlimited Aquarium admission for one year, previews of the new exhibitions, access to our Aquarium Live virtual events, and so much more. Best of all, this is a holiday purchase you can feel good about! Your gift membership is a charitable donation that directly supports our mission to inspire conservation of the ocean.
As the winter days turn dark and chilly, festive holiday lights bring a glimmer of magic to our streets, homes, and treetops. Down in the dark ocean abyss, the glow of deep-sea animals creates a spectacular living light show–no magic required. This mesmerizing phenomenon known as bioluminescence is a versatile survival strategy with many uses, helping deep-sea animals evade predators, lure in prey, and even attract mates. The glowing sea cucumber Pannychia moseleyi lights up in swirling bands of light to ward off would-be predators on the deep seafloor.
