Swimming Machines

 A video display features images of life in the sea.

Another look at the blue whale.

Life in water has evolved to meet its challenges.

Overhead, models of narwhals are hanging.

This model is a cut out, showing how much blubber is on a blue whale.

The Water Gallery

 The Water Gallery is the next space within the Museum of Nature. Its centerpiece is the skeleton of a blue whale.

It is a large space that looks at the role of water on the planet (and beyond), and the organisms that call it home- both in sea water and freshwater. Hanging above here are narwhal sculptures.

You actually have to move this quartz, by moving the display case, but an air pocket half filled with water is visible, particularly when it's moving. That water is half a billion years old.

If you were to remove all of the salt in the oceans and spread it evenly over the continents, it would go 40 stories up.

A display shows some of the true giants of the ocean, with a model of a person for size comparison. The blue whale is the biggest animal on the planet.

The elusive colossal squid is the biggest invertebrate. It appears that the model of the person beside it is missing- I wonder if the museum knows.

The whale shark is the largest fish of the oceans.

Canadian Birds

 Birds that make their living in and around water are focused on here.

There isn't strictly speaking a national bird for the country, but each province and territory has a designated bird. Alberta has the great horned owl, the Northwest Territories chose the gyrfalcon, and New Brunswick has the black-capped chickadee.

The sharp-tailed grouse is the provincial bird of Saskatchewan. The Yukon territory selected the common raven. And British Columbia has the Steller's jay.

The rock ptarmigan is the official bird of Nunavut. Ontario selected the common loon.

The blue jay is the bird of Prince Edward Island. Nova Scotia has the osprey. And Quebec has the snowy owl.

Rounding things out, the Atlantic puffin is the bird of Newfoundland and Labrador, while Manitoba selected the great gray owl.

Coming out into the Queens Lantern, I photographed the stained glass at the top of the windows on this level.

This is the dedication plaque, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth. The Queens Lantern is in honour of her and Queen Victoria.

It is a delight to be in.

Back into the central atrium I went, and looked up at Gaia.

Adaptations

 The Bird Gallery really is a tremendous collection, looking at how birds adapt to life in Canada, and beyond.

Another video display, though getting a still can pose a challenge.

We'll pick up here tomorrow.