John Harvey Photo

June 2013

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Lots of things Aquatic


Visit to the Vancouver Aquarium

Nara Looking Into Beluga TankBeluga Looking In At Us
We try to be at the Aquarium when it opens (10am) and we make a bee line for the Beluga Exhibit.  For a few minutes we have it alone with the whales.  I'm still surprised at how much the kids aren't completely taken over by the exhibit - they look for a few minutes, but they don't stop in wonder at the size of the tank, the size of the acrylic wall or that they are looking at an animal larger than humans from thousands of km away. 



Claira Looking At BelugaClaira With Two BelugasNara Sticking Her Tongue Out
 
New for me this time was the Northern Fur Seals.  These are classically "cute" animals - large dark eyes and interactive.  I don't remember the aquarium having these animals - from what I understand it was a difficult year for pups this year (not a lot of fish) so there were lots of babies starving.  I think these are some of the animals that were "rescued".
 
Nara And Claira With Northern Fur SealNorthern Fur Seal Looking At Naras Fingers

Claira Looking Up At Jelly FishNara and Claira still had a great time.  In many ways, the Aquarium is completely overwhelming for a three year old - seemingly endless windows to look in, each with a different "lesson" or thing to find.   As a parent, it can be hard to figure out what to emphasize - I want to talk about how the animals relate to each other and how they aren't so different from us, but it's hard to explain that to a child wowed by the novelty of new.

Nara And Helen Touching Tidepool AnimalsNara Looking Into Artic Char Tank
 

Richmond Nature House

Nara And Jennie Reflected In The Pond Helen And Claira After AFeed
I've been to the Richmond Nature house a number of times and it seems to get better and better.  They have a small pond (recently enlarged) that has a family of pet store released turtles.  Nara likes turtles and Helen likes the food in the Richmond malls so the Richmond Nature House + Mall food makes for a good Saturday morning.
Claira Walking Down The Bridge

Cardinal Meadowhawk On Reed Four Spotted Skimmer
We were really struck by the dragon flies on this day out.  There were half a dozen species of dragon flies buzzing around the small pond, fighting over reeds and space.  We sat on the bridge and watched the drama - we could have watched for hours.
Eight Spotted Skimmer Resting
 
A surprise for me was the frogs.  We went a few months ago and the naturalist said there were frogs, but she couldn't find any.  This time, we found two (without assistance) and they weren't running away when we got close.  These are "Green Frogs" - an invasive species that doesn't belong here.  These frogs aren't as bad a bullfrogs, but they aren't native to the area.  I was happy I could show Nara a real frog.

Green Frog In The GrassGreen Frog Half Submerged

Happy Birthday Claira!

Claira turned one at the end of the month.  We got a cake and had people over for a little party.  Claira seemed to enjoy seeing the candle blown out.

Blowing Out Clairas First CandleNara Clapping For Cake

Nara Offering Dad Cake
Claira has been a bit of challenge to feed - she really enjoys drinking milk, but we haven't had much luck with solids.  Claira doesn't like baby food or fruit so we weren't surprised when she didn't eat much cake.  That said, Nara generously offered to eat Claira's piece.

Clairas First Taste Of Cake


Beluga Looking In At Us
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Claira With Two Belugas
Person: Claira
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Claira Walking Down The Bridge
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Richmond Nature Park
Blowing Out Clairas First Candle
Person: Claira, Helen, Nara, Jennie
Clairas First Taste Of Cake
Person: Claira
Four Spotted Skimmer
Species: Libellula quadrimaculata (Four-spotted Skimmer)
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dragonfly, Richmond Nature Park
Nara Offering Dad Cake
Person: Nara
Eight Spotted Skimmer Resting
Species: Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer)
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dragonfly, Richmond Nature Park
Nara Sticking Her Tongue Out
Person: Claira
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Northern Fur Seal Looking At Naras Fingers
Person: Nara
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Green Frog Half Submerged
Species: Lithobates clamitans (Green Frog)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: amphibian, Richmond Nature Park
Helen And Claira After AFeed
Person: Claira, Helen
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Richmond Nature Park
Nara Looking Into Beluga Tank
Person: Nara
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Cardinal Meadowhawk On Reed
Species: Sympetrum illotum (Cardinal Meadowhawk)
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dragonfly, Richmond Nature Park
Green Frog In The Grass
Species: Lithobates clamitans (Green Frog)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: amphibian, Richmond Nature Park
Claira Looking At Beluga
Person: Claira
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Nara And Claira With Northern Fur Seal
Person: Claira, Nara
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Nara Looking Into Artic Char Tank
Person: Nara
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Nara And Jennie Reflected In The Pond
Person: Nara
Location: Go To...
Tags: pond, reflection, Richmond Nature Park
Nara Clapping For Cake
Person: Claira, Helen, Nara
Nara And Helen Touching Tidepool Animals
Person: Helen, Nara
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium
Claira Looking Up At Jelly Fish
Person: Claira
Tags: jellyfish, Vancouver Aquarium
Tags: Vancouver Aquarium(10), Richmond Nature Park(8), dragonfly(3), amphibian(2), jellyfish(1), pond(1)
People: Claira(10), Nara(9), Helen(4), Jennie(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > June 2013

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