Brown pelican
From spring through fall, you might see brown pelicans diving into the bay from 40 feet up—with wings folded and necks extended—to catch anchovies and other small fish. Size: up to 7 feet (2.1 m) wingspan; 10 pounds (4.5 kg)
Our Monterey Bay cam offers a sneak peak at the view from the aquarium's oceanview decks. From this vantage point, you can identify many of the birds and sea animals that find refuge here.
From spring through fall, you might see brown pelicans diving into the bay from 40 feet up—with wings folded and necks extended—to catch anchovies and other small fish. Size: up to 7 feet (2.1 m) wingspan; 10 pounds (4.5 kg)
Common dolphins, Pacific whited-sided dolphins and Risso's dolphins are some of the dolphins that make their home in Monterey Bay. As fast-moving ships slice through the water, dolphins often surf alongside. Size: to 8 feet (2.4 m), 330 pounds (150 kg)
Giant kelp grows on sunlit rocky reefs. It forms vast groves in the bay and, with the plants and animals that live around it, makes a unique habitat—the kelp forest. Size: to 150 feet (46 m)
If you see spots, that's a good start: harbor seals have spotted coats that help them blend with light patterns in the water. You'll also recognize them by their sausagelike shape when they haul out on rocks. Size: to 5 feet (1.6 m)
Kayaking is one way to get out on the bay or explore the nearby coastal wetland, Elkhorn Slough. Explore the plants and animals up close that make the bay their home.
Every year, pelagic cormorants build nests, lay eggs and raise their young beneath our decks. Look for these low-flying birds near the water's surface from February through August. Pelagic cormorants dive into heavy surf for crabs, worms and small fish and sit on the rocks to rest and preen. Size: to 35 inches (89 cm)
Dive boats are often seen loading and unloading SCUBA divers just beyond the kelp forest. Monterey Bay is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The diversity of life found here makes it a popular dive spot.
Egrets and other wading birds are often spotted standing on top of the giant kelp looking for fish, crabs and insects. Egrets were hunted to near extinction at the turn of the 20th century, because their plumes were very popular on hats.
If you see a brown object floating on the surface wrapped in kelp, it's probably a sea otter. Fifty years ago, you wouldn't have seen any otters—hunters had nearly wiped them out. Size: to 4 feet (1.2 m); 50 pounds (23 kg) for females, 70 pounds (32 kg) for males
A coastal resident often seen on wharves, jetties and docks, the western gull dresses in spectacular white plumage with a dark slate-gray mantle. It catches fish by diving or wading. Often seen following boats or near sea otters, this gull commonly feeds on scraps thrown away.Size: to 27 inches (70 cm)