Sea World Homeschool Day

Today was a Sea World Homeschool Day field trip! We left the house at 7:00 and drove almost three hours (traffic), then had a nice but hot day at Sea World. The rides, shops, restaurants, etc., were not open, but we got to look up close at dolphins, sharks, coral reef fish, and penguins. We also got to attend two shows, Sea Lion Story and Beluga Story. They were great. The event was very crowded, because there were thousands of people there, all going by the same agenda, but it all worked out in the end. Bad traffic on the way back home again. :( But we did get home in time to meet some friends at the park before dinner.

he loves Kitty

Xander's autumn painting

waiting for Sea Lion Story

a sea lion!

one lucky girl got to go up there to meet one of the sea lions

waiting for Beluga Story

there's also a pacific white-sided dolphin in there

who is going up for a jump!

I wasn't able to get any good pictures of the dolphins and beluga whales, but there was plenty of jumping, training pointers, macaws flying overhead, and simple beauty. I can't get over how shiny their skins are when they come up out of the water. I didn't realize just how much the belugas, dolphins, and sea lions like having trainers come into the water to play with them. That is one of their rewards for doing correct behaviors. Especially with babies when they are still nursing and not yet eating fish.

Here, from Sea World, are four ways that sea lions differ from seals:


"Seals and sea lions/fur seals differ in a number of ways, but here are four that are easy to spot. Sea lions/fur seals show external ear flaps; seals show only ear holes. Sea lions/ fur seals have long, hairless, front flippers with short nails; seals have short, fur-covered front flippers with long claws. Sea lions/fur seals can rotate their hind flippers forward to walk on land; seals hold their hind flippers straight and move on land in a forward rolling motion of their bellies. Sea lion/fur seal whiskers are smooth; most seal whiskers are beaded or crimped."

Also from Sea World here, puffins differ from penguins in being able to fly! They also have broader and very colorful bills. I was surprised to find out penguins and puffins are not all that closely related.