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Photos: At Cabrillo Marine Aquarium get an up-close look at grunion, where gigantic test tubes of colorful liquids contain food to feed grunion living in aquarium tanks (call before going to confirm grunion are on view).

Each year in early March there’s all sorts of activity that springs forth in nature. Birds build nests and lay eggs in them, busy bees begin to pollinate flowers, and from the ocean the grunion wiggle onto California beaches and start spawning. Exciting times! For those who aren’t up for the late night grunion show that happens usually after 10 p.m. during grunion season, you can learn about the slithering, silver fish and usually see them in tanks in San Pedro at Grunion Headquarters. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is the best known and most friendly facility to educating the public about grunion, a fascinating fish that humans are extremely inquisitive about. At the free admission aquarium (donations recommended, but no one is ever turned away) they even train volunteer Grunion Greeters who work as ambassadors to help the public learn about and love the little critters. The grunion are coming…here’s the schedule!  For grunion programs at the aquarium, see: cabrillomarineaquarium.org