NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

More than 150 years ago, the USS Monitor made history during the battle of Hampton Roads. In 1975, the wreck of USS Monitor was designated as the nation's first national marine sanctuary, paving the way for a future network of protected areas in America's waters. NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary

Have you always wanted to visit the Farallon Islands? Afraid of getting sea sick? Join us for a virtual naturalist cruise through Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to the Farallon Islands from the comfort of your own home! No dramamine necessary.

Create a caption! What might this mom and pup monk seal in Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument be saying to each other? (Photo Credit: NOAA. Image description: mom and pup monk seal nose to nose in shallow water.)

Welcome to Winged Wednesday! The waters of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary are home to 13 breeding species of seabirds and we’re going to introduce you to all of them and their seabird ‘superpower’. Next up, the double-crested cormorant! If double-crested cormorants had a superpower it would be getting waterlogged! Does that not sound like a superpower? Get this: because they don’t have fully waterproof feathers, they sink faster and more efficiently when they d...ive, and are some of the deepest diving birds around! Their superpower keeps them from floating on the surface and gives them the ability to masterfully catch fish! To learn more about California seabirds and what Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is doing to help seabirds thrive, visit http://farallones.noaa.gov/eco/seabird/ #SeabirdSuperPowers (Photo Credit: Peter Pearsall/USFWS. Image description: brownish black bird with a yellow beak sitting on the surface of the water with a large fish in its open beak.)

Tuesday Trivia Time! What is the lifespan of a sei whale? (Photo Credit: Christin Khan/NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Image description: a sei whale feeding underwater in a sideways position with a streak of white in front of it.)

Farallones Field Notes: In the spring, shorebirds flock along the sanctuary’s shoreline to feast! Here we see western sandpipers, not to be confused with snowy plovers, mixed with gulls and other sandpipers. These birds use their long, pointy beaks to catch sand crabs as the waves roll back. The next time you visit the beach, see how many species you can spot. (Credit: Tiffany Pfeiffer, Farallones Volunteer Naturalist. Image description: small shorebirds with white bellies standing in wet sand at the edge of the ocean.)

Tuesday Trivia Time! How many arms does a sunflower star have? (Photo Credit: Steve Lonhart, NOAA. Image description: close up view of a sea star arm with tube feet visible.)

Happy Marine Life Monday! Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are probably the most familiar of all ducks, and are a common sight across North America in wetlands and estuaries as well as in ponds or even parks. These dabbling ducks don’t dive, but skim the surface of the water for small animals (insect larvae, worms, or snails) and vegetation. When you hear the classic quack from mallards, you’re actually hearing the females. The males make a quieter raspy noise but don’t quack. These strong fliers have been estimated to travel up to 55 mph while migrating! (Photo Credit: Tom Koerner, USFWS. Image description: three ducks flying against a bright blue sky, two males with bright green heads and one female with a brown head and body.)

From November through April, thousands of humpback whales return to the warm sanctuary waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, calve, and nurse their young.

Create a caption! What might these albatrosses have to say? (Photo Credit: Claire Fackler, NOAA. Image description: an albatross chick sticking its beak inside an adult albatross’s wide open beak.)

Scenic Saturday! What is your favorite scenic sanctuary spot to enjoy? Do you know where this beautiful photo was taken? Today is World Whale Day and this just happens to be a great location to spot gray whales as they migrate along our coast!... (Photo Credit: Sara Heintzelman, NOAA, GFNMS. Image description: people walking on a coastal path with a rocky shore and bright blue ocean.)

Have you ever heard of a basket star? Get to know this creature that scientists found near @NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary!

Create a caption! What might this monk seal and green sea turtle be thinking? (Photo Credit: Mark Sullivan, NOAA. Image description: a monk seal resting its head on a green sea turtle’s head on a sandy beach.)

Farallones Field Notes: One of the joys of searching the tidepools is spotting the glorious colors found within nature. The ochre star (Pisaster ochraceus) not only adds color, but is a keystone species and is considered an important indicator for the health of the intertidal zone. The ochre star can be orange, brown, or purple; these variations are known as color polymorphism. While we don’t have a definitive cause for the different color variations, it is generally attributed to diet and ecological factors. (Photo Credit: Margaret Farley, Farallones Volunteer Naturalist. Image Description: various photos of ochre stars showing the color variations and the distinct white dots along their bodies.)

Tuesday Trivia Time! How much does the heart of a blue whale weigh? (Photo Credit: NOAA. Image description: aerial view of two blue whales, one is just below the surface of the water and the other has its back visible and is spouting.)

Happy Marine Life Monday! Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are a common sight (and sound) as they migrate north and south each year, but more and more are staying put in one location year-round. They are especially abundant wherever there are large lawns, which offer them both a source of food and a clear view of any approaching predators. There are at least 11 subspecies of the Canada goose; the subspecies can be hard to tell apart but in general they are smaller in the nort...h and darker in color toward the west. This week the Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place, did you participate? What was the most interesting bird you spotted? Did you spot any Canada geese during your count? (Photo Credit: Jacob Frank, NPS. Image description: large bird with brown/grey feathers, a black head, and white chin-strap standing on a bit of log in water with reflections of the bird and trees in the foreground.)

The Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center at Crissy Field is Closed. For the health and safety of our guests, volunteers, and employees, and as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Visitor Center WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. We will continue to reassess the situation. We understand this closure is an inconvenience for visitors, and we apologize. Our top priority is the health of our guests who come to learn about the National Marine Sanctuary System, as well as the staff and volunteers who support our visitor centers.

Explore your national marine sanctuaries with a virtual journey along Highway 1! Our next stop is Bowling Ball Beach at Schooner Gulch State Beach, famous for its round concretions strewn on the sand. These mineralized sandstone spheres were formed and emerged from Cenozoic mudstone over millions of years of creation and erosion. Visible only at minus tides, they form a natural art installation worth visiting. https://arcg.is/1KCmzK0 (Photo: Matt McIntosh, NOAA)

We're not squidding around reef squid in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are truly inkredible!

Create a caption for this deep-sea chimaera! (Photo: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010)

Join us for the Virtual Humpback Soirée on Saturday, November 14, 2020!

A spooky seabird story for your Halloween Winged Wednesday! If you see this photo and think of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds? You’re not wrong! On a dark August night in 1961 thousands of sooty shearwaters besieged the small town of Capitola, slamming into roofs, cutting power lines, even biting a resident. Sound familiar? The Birds was released in 1963! The full story is more 'whodunit' than horror. Turns out, plankton guts were full of a toxic algae that causes deadly d...omoic acid poisoning and odd behavior in seabirds. To learn more about California seabirds and what Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is doing to help seabirds thrive, visit http://farallones.noaa.gov/eco/seabird/ (Photo: S. Morrell, USFWS)

Our Ocean Climate Center and Program just turned 10! Over the last decade we have advanced climate understanding, science and adaptation in our region and beyond by publishing 9 reports, convening 7 working groups, holding 5 Ocean Climate Summits, and providing over 100 climate presentations and trainings all around the world! To learn more about NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary & Greater Farallones Association’s Ocean Climate Program, check out our story...map! https://farallones.noaa.gov/manage/climate/storymap.html (Photo: NOAA)

Tuesday Trivia Time! Do spiders live in the ocean? (Photo: Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana)

Happy Marine Life Monday! Are you still looking for Halloween inspiration? Look no further! The common fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta), is always dressed for Halloween. These fish are usually found at depths of 500-2,000 meters. They grow to lengths of about 7 inches and have a very distinct appearance with a large, bony head, a small eye, and mouth filled with sharp fangs! They feed on crustaceans when they are young and on other fish as they mature. In turn, they are preyed upon by larger fish such as albacore, tuna, and marlin. They sometimes swim solo, but are often found in small groups- talk about a spooky school! (Photo Credit: Jonathan Whitney, NOAA)

We are excited to share the winners of the annual Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We want to celebrate all the photographers who submitted over 200 photos this year to four categories highlighting the diversity of your National Marine Sanctuary System. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks as we highlight our winners over social media! Congratulations to our 1st place winners!... Sanctuary Views: Jon Anderson Sanctuary Recreation: Bruce Sudweeks Sanctuary Life: Jon Anderson Sanctuaries at Home: Jill Kevin Brown Check out all our winners here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov//photo-contest-winners-2020.h #EarthIsBlue #ILoveMySanctuary #RecreateResponsibly See more

Explore your national marine sanctuaries with a virtual journey along Highway 1! Our next stop is Salt Point State Park. Along the park’s rugged coastline you will find 20 miles of hiking trails that take you past fields of wildflowers, coastal scrub, and breathtaking views. Gerstle Cove offers fantastic spots for camping, picnicking, hiking, and horseback riding. The marine reserve offers fishing and scuba diving. Be sure to check before you go for updates on fishing activities and regulations. https://arcg.is/XD1z0 (Photo: Sara Heintzelman, NOAA)

Happy 48th anniversary to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act! Celebrate by checking out this year's #EarthisBlue magazine by NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Through vivid images and engaging articles, Earth Is Blue: The Magazine of the National Marine Sanctuaries brings sanctuaries directly to the American public, so you can experience the wonder of our ocean and Great Lakes even if you don't live nearby. Read the magazine here: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/magazine/5/ (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA. Image description: A person with a life vest and hat looks out at a whale tail above the water.)

Did you know there are thriving reefs off the coast of Georgia? Dive in and explore NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary!

Create a caption for this northern elephant seal! (Photo Credit: Robert Schwemmer ONMS-NOAA)