The world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is a highlight of any visitor's trip to Monterey. The indoor exhibits of the kelp forest, sharks, and jellyfish are wonderful. There is also a walk-in Aviary with waterbirds and waders (often rescued birds that were injured), and there are indoor exhibits featuring Penguins, and another featuring puffins and murres.  DO NOT ENTER eBird lists of birds on exhibit in the Aquarium.

This Hot Spot is for entry of birds seen outdoors only at the Aquarium overlooks or the adjacent public causeway. Pelagic Cormorants and Pigeon Guillemots nest underneath the buildings, and, depending on weather conditions, various pelagic species may be seen from the outside decks on the Aquarium itself.  There is also a public walkway adjacent to the Aquarium from which these same set of birds may be viewed.

Cormorants, gulls, alcids year-found; loons, grebes, scoters in winter; Elegant Terns and Brown Pelicans in summer/fall.

There is a hefty entrance fee to the Aquarium itself. Some local birders have memberships, and others have become volunteer docents here.

We understand that this Monterey Bay Aquarium hot spot is quite small, as is the adjacent Hot Spot for Hopkins Marine Station, but both have heavy birding coverage from locals and tourist (at the Aquarium) and from researchers (at Stanford's marine station). Please, however, restrict your Monterey Bay Aquarium eBird checklist to the Aquarium property only. Please don't pad your Aquarium list with birds seen elsewhere along the Monterey shoreline (some visitors have done this, and we have to make these lists non-public). Also, don't use this Hot Spot when birding from a kayak on the sea; use the Hot Spot called "Monterey Bay pelagic--inshore Harbor to Pt. Pinos" instead. Thanks.