Good morning and welcome to our midweek version of what my brother Brad describes as the hybrid of photo blogs. Originally I thought he said rye bread and I was slightly confused. Anyway, we’re going to break up the streak of sunrise/sunset experiences and go with something different today. Kind of a Kellogg’s snack-pak of shots that I never blasted out.

The first photo is of a great blue heron I took last week over here on the westside. Number two is a baby blue jay that found itself stuck in my backyard and was about as happy as Scooter Libby was on “Bring A Scapegoat To Work Day.” The third shot is a butterfly who dropped in for some lemonade and a scone. The next shot is straight out of my backyard as these wild-looking flowers belong to a tiger passion vine. Next we go back up to Rodoni’s farm on the north coast for the multi-colored pumpkin pic. We end this variety pack with a jump shot from the shoreline of Natural Bridges. I call this photo “Four Japanese Girls Jumping In The Air At Sunset.” I guess variety is the spice of life. Or is it nutmeg?

So what do all these photos have in common? Well, they were all shot within a mile of Monterey Bay. Which leads us to today’s timely topic. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a federally protected marine area offshore of the central California coast. Stretching from Rocky Point in Marin County to the town of Cambria in San Luis Obispo County, the MBNMS encompasses a shoreline of 276 miles and 5,322 square miles of ocean. Supporting of one the world’s most diverse ecosystems, it is home to numerous mammals, seabirds, fishes, invertebrates, plants, and a sunrise photographer in a remarkably productive coastal environment.

The NBNMS was established in 1992 for the purpose of resource protection, research, education and public use of this national treasure. Monterey Bay is part of the nation’s largest marine environment. The Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is larger than Yosemite or Yellowstone National Park. The Monterey Canyon itself is similar to the size of the Grand Canyon (wow!), but offers fewer mule trips to the floor of the canyon. The sanctuary features a rich array of habitats including rugged rocky shorelines and captivating kelp forests. Because of the amazing biodiversity, the region has the highest concentration of marine institutes and varieties of clam chowder in the world.

These cold, nutrient-rich waters provide perfect habitat for the towering undersea kelp forests. They rival rain forests and tropical coral reefs for their biological richness. Brown pelicans, cormorants, loons, loony tunes and sea lions feast on the small fish and other sea life living in the kelp forests. The Sanctuary encompasses some of the world’s most spectacular submarine canyons and complex geology.

Scientists estimate that 90% of deep-sea species are bioluminescent, so we’re talking about a deep sea light show extravaganza. Unlike most communities on earth that rely on sunlight as their primary energy source, cold-deep communities derive chemical energy from fluids that seep from the sea floor. And speaking of the sea floor where I do most of my underwater banking, sand dollars form dense beds that can cover an area of greater than 1,000 square meters. The smaller sand quarters, nickels and dimes are there just to make change.

The major kelp forests along the central California coast are there partly because of sea otters. Sea urchins eat giant kelp and otters eat sea urchins. Where urchins abound, it’s hard for the new giant kelp plants to survive and grow. But by controlling sea urchins, sea otters help kelp forests thrive. The beauty and high biodiversity of kelp forests make them among the most scenic dive sites in the world. Giant kelp is commercially harvested for algin, a natural emulsifier used in cosmetics and ice cream, which are then used in the flavors, Double Algae Nut Fudge, Cookies n’ Algae, and my personal favorite, Chunky Monkey Algae.

At Lighthouse Point the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary waters are dramatically different depending on the season. The waves blast the bluffs and the beaches, eroding large chunks of cliff that break up to become sand. Waves and currents transport the sand onto beaches or sandbars just offshore. During the summer the waters are calmer as the gentle waves push the sand back onto the shore, recreating the beautiful beaches. Of course, summer time means foggy mornings and clear skies at sunset. That’s why I love the fall and wintertime on Monterey Bay. It is prime time for me and my Canon Digital Rebel. Nothing like a middle-aged boy and his camera

So that’s all she wrote for today. Enjoy the variety and the colors and we’ll catch you tomorrow.