Georgia Aquarium staking a lot on flipper

Atlanta just upped the ante in the arms race that is the contemporary aquarium business.

The Georgia Aquarium, which already has bragging rights to being the largest such facility, announced a few days ago that it will spend $110 million on a new dolphin exhibit. Adjusted for inflation, that's roughly a quarter more than the cost of the entire South Carolina Aquarium.

The exhibit is expected to open by the end of 2010, all 84,000 square feet and 1.3 million gallons of it.

Dolphins are kind of the Ferraris of the aquarium business. Their smarts and speed demand a lot of space, and they also attract hordes of onlookers. Chicago's famed Shedd Aquarium put up a similar princely sum.

Bernie Marcus, the Home Depot co-founder who bankrolled most of the Georgia Aquarium, explained the decision to a reporter last week: "New animals, new fish, are something we believe you have to do if you don't want to become very stale."

The South Carolina Aquarium has tried to keep things fresh, but it is more of a value investor. Jumbo-jetting giant whale sharks from Asia — which the Atlanta folks did — isn't really an option for it. The Concord Street attraction has placed its bets on sea turtles, which save the plane fare by washing up on our beaches in need of a place for R&R.

Marcus, however, may be on to something. The Georgia Aquarium has sold 7.3 million tickets since it opened in 2005. The announcement still raises a question: How much does a dolphin cost anyway?

Spreading its wings

"Osprey with a fish! Osprey with a fish!" Stephen Schabel barked into a CB radio as he slalomed a golf cart around construction stakes.

It was a crisp January day at the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw, and Schabel was pointing the raptor out to colleagues and a group of people getting a sneak peek at the facility. Looking skyward, he pulled the cart to a stop as the osprey flew off with its prize: "I love seeing them in nature, just doing what they do."

To say that the folks at the Birds of Prey center are passionate is an understatement. And that passion will be on display regularly after June 5, when the site opens on a set schedule for the first time.

The crew has transformed 152-acres about 20 minutes northeast of Charleston into a bird paradise of sorts. The living quarters are spacious and open to the elements on three sides. And vast fields provide the perfect setting for the raptors to stretch their wings.

The center will host flight demonstrations daily at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Its regular hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guided tours at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission will be $12 for adults and $10 for youths between 6 and 19.

It's an impressive place that deserves a spot in the top roost of Charleston attractions. It's also right down the road from the two red wolves who roam the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Center. Admission is free to see those guys.

Reach Kyle Stock at 937-5763 or kstock@postandcourier.com.