Maritime Aquarium Brings Atlantic Puffins To CT With New Exhibit In Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — The Maritime Aquarium recently celebrated the opening of its newest exhibit, which brings Atlantic puffins and common murres to Norwalk.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday for the Seabirds Between Worlds exhibit, local and state leaders joined Maritime Aquarium CEO Jason Patlis to mark the debut of the immersive new experience, which officially opened to the public Saturday.

The exhibit is especially unique among facilities throughout the state as it is home to Connecticut's only puffins, according to additional press materials provided by the aquarium.

"We are celebrating a wonderful new exhibit, a news species coming to not only Norwalk, but to the state of Connecticut," Patlis said during Thursday's event. "As of this morning, this is the first and only place you can see puffins in the state of Connecticut. We're very excited by that."

Mayor Barbara Smyth thanked Patlis for his work at the aquarium and noted she has been a frequent visitor to the facility since it first opened in Norwalk.

"Just to see the transformation through your leadership here," Smyth said, "and your commitment to education, research and working with our school children has really been transformative for our whole city, so we're here not just celebrating puffins and murres, we're celebrating a gem for the city of Norwalk here."

Seabirds Between Worlds features both Atlantic puffins and common murres, two iconic seabird species that connect different worlds, one where the ocean and land intersect and one between America and Europe, according to the aquarium.

In the wild, Atlantic puffins nest along the North Atlantic coasts, including Maine and Eastern Canada, as well as Northern Europe, while common murres are spread along the North Atlantic, in North America and Europe and the North Pacific, according to the aquarium.

The exhibit is intended to immerses guests in these habitats while exploring how conservation efforts and environmental change are shaping the future of both species.

"This exhibit is so much about education, conservation and inspiring curiosity in people of all ages," Smyth said, "so every child who visits, every family who learns something new and every guest who leaves with a greater appreciation for the natural world helps strengthen this mission."

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff highlighted the state's work with the Maritime Aquarium, which he noted was "the best aquarium in the state of Connecticut," and said he hoped they would continue to be good partners over the long term.

He also thanked the aquarium's staff for all their hard work.

"If it weren't for you, people would not come here all the time, over and over again," Duff said. "I know we hear our colleagues from around the state who say 'I love going to the Maritime Aquarium, we're so spoiled we're so close to it,' but there's people literally who drive hours and hours to get here."

Clay Fowler, chair of the aquarium's trustees, and state representatives Lucy Dathan and Dominique Johnson also offered remarks during the ceremony.

According to the aquarium, three male Atlantic puffins from Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Nebraska and three females from SeaWorld San Diego in California make up the exhibit's colony, along with six common murres.

Designed to showcase the birds' natural behaviors, including diving and swimming, the thoughtfully crafted exhibit features detailed rockwork and a deep-water environment that mirrors the rugged coastal landscapes these birds call home, according to the aquarium.

The 5,200-gallon saltwater habitat allows guests to observe the birds both above and below the surface, while an integrated soundscape fills the space with the calls of the seabird colony.

By surrounding visitors with these sights and sounds, the exhibit evokes the experience of standing along these shores and brings the story of the birds and their habitats to life in ways that make environmental connections and conservation messages engaging and easy to understand, according to the aquarium.

The exhibit also highlights the role seabirds play as indicators of ocean health.

By studying their behaviors, diets and population trends, scientists gain valuable insights into changes in water temperature, fish availability and broader ecosystem shifts, according to the aquarium.

At the heart of the exhibit are the seabirds themselves, now settling into their new home at the aquarium.

"All the birds have acclimated really well to their new habitat," Julie Mede Moussa, assistant curator at the aquarium, said in additional press materials. "Introducing birds to one another other and to a new environment can be challenging, but we are seeing great positive natural behaviors as they explore and settle into their surroundings. We're excited for guests to experience them up close and learn more about these incredible species!"

Seabirds Between Worlds is included with general admission at the aquarium.

More information is available at the aquarium's website.