Exposing the Rich Life in the Mudflats

In the past few years, mudflats may not have received the ballyhoo that whale watching has, but the staff at the Cabrillo Marine Museum is out to fix that. The museum’s newest permanent exhibit, “Mudflats: Cradle of Life,” opened a few weeks ago to strong praise from parents and children--a critical success for a project aimed at lively education and enlightenment.

“Mudflats are not a barren habitat,” says curator Ed Mastro. “They have a rich and varied life. They are worth saving.” Saving the remaining mudflats is part of the reason behind the new exhibit. More than 80% of the estuaries in Southern California have been lost, mainly to development, Mastro says.

The mudflats exhibit, which has a room all to itself, includes three aquariums: Mudflat Metropolis, with snails, slugs and algae; another with ghost shrimp and fiddler crabs, and a third that depicts life under a fishing pier.

In addition, there is a huge display of shore birds. This feasting flock of “prepared” (read: taxidermied) birds has been posed in various feeding positions. The exhibit ends with an examination of where the mudflats went and how the remaining ones can be preserved; one of these is near the museum’s front door.

The museum is at 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. Weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesday to Friday, noon-5 p.m.) Admittance is free, but there is a parking charge of $4 per car. Information: (213) 548-7562.