Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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In this episode, Amanda Torres joins Madeline and Erin to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to care for one of the Aquarium's most specialized and climate-controlled exhibits, the Diving Birds habitat, introduces us to the full cast of clownish characters, and answers the question everyone has been asking: are they penguins? (Spoiler alert, no!)
In this episode:
• Amanda's path at the Aquarium from education intern to mammologist and diving bird caretaker
• What alcids are, what makes them remarkable, and how the Aquarium's flock is structured across tufted puffins, horned puffins, and pigeon guillemots
• The engineering behind the exhibit: Alaska-based daylight simulation, reverse air pressure, and water temperatures cold enough to require an 8mm wetsuit
• How behavioral training has transformed the way staff monitor and care for individual birds, including weekly weigh-ins and voluntary medication delivery
• The Alcid Rodeo: the annual drain-down, full flock physicals, and what 14 to 16 hours of coordinated bird wrangling actually looks like
• Individual puffin personalities, including Elmer (enthusiastic, 27-plus years old, does not slow down), Brownie (polite), Pumpkin (excited but discerning), and the Nia and Monty situation
• Relationship dynamics across the flock, including Heff, Daisy, and the pigeon guillemot drama
• Puffin conservation status and the threats of climate change, ocean plastic, and introduced predators
Episode resources:
• Episode transcript (otter.ai/u/LD3_AYndvrexMT_euCjgob2s2qc?utm_source=copy_url)
• Learn more about alcids in our Online Learning Center
• Tufted puffins (aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/tufted_puffin)
• Horned puffins (aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/horned_puffin1)
• Pigeon guillemot (aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/pigeon_guillemot1)
Stay connected:
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you are subscribed to Aquarium of the Podcific wherever you are listening, and leave us a five-star review! It goes a long way in helping new listeners find the show. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Email us at podcific@lbaop.org (mailto:podcific@lbaop.org) ! Follow the Aquarium of the Pacific across social media (@aquariumpacific (instagram.com/aquariumpacific/) ) for fun animal videos, conservation updates, and more. Follow the podcast's own Instagram (@podcific (instagram.com/podcific/) ) for episode updates and behind-the-scenes content.
Thanks for listening!
Send us Fan Mail (buzzsprout.com/2607592/fan_mail/new)
In this episode, Amanda Torres joins Madeline and Erin to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to care for one of the Aquarium's most specialized and climate-controlled exhibits, the Diving Birds habitat, introduces us to the full cast of clownish characters, and answers the question everyone has been asking: are they penguins? (Spoiler alert, no!)
In this episode:
• Amanda's path at the Aquarium from education intern to mammologist and diving bird caretaker
• What alcids are, what makes them remarkable, and how the Aquarium's flock is structured across tufted puffins, horned puffins, and pigeon guillemots
• The engineering behind the exhibit: Alaska-based daylight simulation, reverse air pressure, and water temperatures cold enough to require an 8mm wetsuit
• How behavioral training has transformed the way staff monitor and care for individual birds, including weekly weigh-ins and voluntary medication delivery
• The Alcid Rodeo: the annual drain-down, full flock physicals, and what 14 to 16 hours of coordinated bird wrangling actually looks like
• Individual puffin personalities, including Elmer (enthusiastic, 27-plus years old, does not slow down), Brownie (polite), Pumpkin (excited but discerning), and the Nia and Monty situation
• Relationship dynamics across the flock, including Heff, Daisy, and the pigeon guillemot drama
• Puffin conservation status and the threats of climate change, ocean plastic, and introduced predators
Episode resources:
• Episode transcript (otter.ai/u/LD3_AYndvrexMT_euCjgob2s2qc?utm_source=copy_url)
• Learn more about alcids in our Online Learning Center
• Tufted puffins (aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/tufted_puffin)
• Horned puffins (aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/horned_puffin1)
• Pigeon guillemot (aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/pigeon_guillemot1)
Stay connected:
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you are subscribed to Aquarium of the Podcific wherever you are listening, and leave us a five-star review! It goes a long way in helping new listeners find the show. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Email us at podcific@lbaop.org (mailto:podcific@lbaop.org) ! Follow the Aquarium of the Pacific across social media (@aquariumpacific (instagram.com/aquariumpacific/) ) for fun animal videos, conservation updates, and more. Follow the podcast's own Instagram (@podcific (instagram.com/podcific/) ) for episode updates and behind-the-scenes content.
Thanks for listening!
