Jazzin' Instrumentals: The Drums

You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger percussion section than the drums, or the Sciaenidae family, which includes 275 species of freshwater and marine fishes found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. 

And we mean percussion literally. The males have special tendons that vibrate against the swim bladder, producing a sound underwater similar to a drum beating in the distance. It is most likely a rhythmic love call to the female of the species. (If you remove a drum from the water, the distressed fish will bellow like a bullfrog, earning it another common name, croaker.)

Jazzin' Instrumentals: Green Scat

This fish isn’t with tonight’s band, the Chris Greene Quartet, nor has it appeared, as far as we know, at the Green Mill Lounge, Uptown’s fabled jazz club. And, we confess, it does not sing, scat or otherwise.

But we love the green scat’s name—brought to our attention by collection manager Kathy Lee, a ready resource for so many of our animal blog series.

Concert to Keep the Lakes Great

The Concert to Keep the Lakes Great starring Guster was a great success! Our audience enjoyed a live performance by Guster on the beautiful lakefront setting of The Dock at Montrose Beach. Thank you to all the wonderful fans that attended the show. A special thank you to sponsors of Shedd's Great Lakes conservation efforts: Coca-Cola and ArcelorMittal, as well as our event partner, 93XRT.














Guster performs at the Concert to Keep the Lakes Great.














Fans enjoy live music at The Dock on Montrose Beach.














The Great Lakes Booth at the event, featuring turtles native
to the Great Lakes.

All photos by Steve Hardy, CBS Digital Chicago.

Shedd at night - Playtime

Come to Jazzin’ at the Shedd to see things you wouldn’t during regular hours! Like pool toys—very sturdy pool toys—in the Oceanarium habitats.

"One of the things we do for the animals at night is enrichment," says Ken Ramirez, executive vice president, animal programs and training. "During the day, we focus on training and personal interactions. At night, when we go home, we put enrichment items"— toys—"into the habitats for the animals to play with."

Fantasea is a "must sea!"

The reviews are in and Fantasea is a "must sea!" Check out reviews in The Chicago Tribune, Southtown Star and WBBM radio.

Check out this video introducing the cast of Shedd's new aquatic show.



Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor

Fantasea at Shedd Aquarium trailer

Check out the official trailer for Fantasea, which debuts Oct. 16 at Shedd!



Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
 

Oceanarium Opening Photos and Video

 
Shedd President and CEO Ted Beattie, The Blackhawk's Tommy Hawk, Bobby Hull and Ice Crew Girls cut the ribbon