A warm welcome to the winter solstice on Dec 21st (at 11:03am AST if we would like to be specific). This is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, where the Earth reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun.

Any guesses as to who is signing this exhibit contract? 😉

NEW - Explore Our Collections This new site, Nova Scotia Museum Collections Online, allows users to explore of some of the highlights in the Nova Scotia Museum collection. We will be adding content regularly. collections.novascotia.ca #NSMCollections #NovaScotiaMuseum #novascotia

Just a bullfrog eating a mouse kind of day. (This is a feeder mouse that was already deceased. Bullfrogs eat rodents, frogs, small birds, insects, tadpoles, and basically anything they can fit in their mouths).

#CanadaWarblers are ENDANGERED in #NovaScotia. They are a 12-14 cm long songbird. Males have distinct yellow feathers, grey-coloured back and a necklace of black stripes. Females and young birds look similar to males, however, appear muted in colour. kswnsconservation.ca/wp-content/u...

Drink water.

“It belongs in a museum!” …And it is!! This is an appreciation post for archaeology. Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through digs and analysis of found objects. What is archaeology like with the @novascotiamuseum.bsky.social? Let’s dive in.

A beautiful eastern American toad. She’s majestic.

Well now you have! #MNH #Turtle #ElfOnAShelf

Tell Root your joys and your troubles. He's a good listener and rarely interrupts.

#RoseateTern is ENDANGERED in Nova Scotia, with 120 -150 breeding pairs recorded in Atlantic Canada. The Roseate Tern has a black capped head, a white slender body, soft grey wings, short legs, and tail feathers distinguishing it from the Common Tern. For more info www.hww.ca/wildlife/bir...

Wood duck sighting in the Halifax Public Gardens. Take a look around, you never know what, or who, you might see. #Nature #GetOutside #Birds

If you're not visiting the #Museum, then you're missing out 😉. Bricks By The Sea is on view now until January 3rd, 2026. #Halifax #NovaScotia #December

Do you want to build a snowman?❄️ In this blog post Tim Fedak, Curator of Geology, explores the science behind snow crystals, highlighting the fascinating geological twists that make each one a unique work of art. museum.novascotia.ca/blog/beautif...

The Museum of Natural History will be closed December 24, 25, 26 and January 1. We are open 9:30am - 4:30pm all other days, weather permitting. Be sure to check out Bricks By The Sea, TREES for LIFE, Pjila'si, Marine Gallery, and more. #MNH #BricksByTheSea #Holidays #NovaScotia

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. We invited coworker Kiera to share her thoughts on disabilities and an inclusive society. Kiera works with museum programs and is an advocate for persons with disabilities.

#ChimneySwifts are ENDANGERED #SpeciesAtRisk in NS. These birds tend to nest in urban chimneys, hence the name. Chimney Swift have brown–grey feathers with a distinguished pointed body, long narrow wings, and short tail. Their flight is described as rapid and jerky. www.canada.ca/en/environme...

Beautiful photo 🤩

A green sea urchin having a little snack. The mouth of the urchin is on the underside of the body. It has used its tube feet to pass the piece of scallop (the white goo) from the side of the body to the mouth underneath. #MNH #Museum #SeaUrchin

Give the gift of Gus the gopher tortoise this holiday season! An annual pass to the Museum of Natural History makes a great gift for a friend, family member, or yourself. #MNH #Museum #GiftIdeas #NovaScotia

A little Lego ASMR. Experience Bricks By The Sea at your Museum until end of day January 3rd, 3026.

Take a mindful moment. Explore the 8 walking trails available year-round Uniacke Estate Museum Park to discover Nova Scotia’s rich natural heritage in every season. #NovaScotia

Thursday morning motivation: salamanders. Salamanders are secretive, harmless creatures. Their permanent smiles and delicate little toes will win your heart. Nova Scotia has 5 species of salamander: yellow spotted, blue spotted, red-backed, four toed, and red spotted newts.

#AtlanticWhitefish are ENDANGERED. The only Wild Atlantic Whitefish population in the WORLD can be found in 3 freshwater lakes in the Petite Rivière watershed in Lunenburg County. As a member of the Salmonidae family, Atlantic Whitefish were once an anadromous fish. novascotia.ca/natr/wildlif...

This blue lobster is about one in two million, and displays the beautiful blue colouring due to a genetic mutation. This mutation suppresses other colours (red, yellow, green). #NovaScotia #Lobster

There are just two Wee Wild Ones programs left for the fall! Join us on November 25th and December 2nd 10-11am with your little one to learn about nature and connect with community at your Museum.

Lisa Bower is a museum curator and historian who specializes in material culture studies about Nova Scotian samplers, needlework and 19th century African Nova Scotian schools. #Museum30 #specialist #novascotia

We're happy to share some exciting news! On Friday, November 14th, the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) presented the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History (MNH) with the 2025 CQCC Rainbow Registered Prism Award. (1/3)

Visitor Notice: Water Safety Please be advised that the water in our museum facilities is NOT drinkable (non-potable). This includes all faucets and fountains. We encourage all visitors to bring their own bottled water. Thank you for your cooperation.

The American #Marten is ENDANGERED in NS. Members of the weasel family, Martens are the size of a house cat. Marten’s have a slender body, bushy tail, and a pointed face. During winter, their fur coat is a dark brown with a bright orange throat patch. #NSWildifeSpotlight #SpeciesAtRisk

Today's #Museum30 theme is #Photograph and we think our photographers take amazing photos. Green Frog, and a Yellow-spotted salamander from the Museum of Natural History.

Reminder: the Indigo parking lot next to the Museum will be closed on Nov 18 and part of Nov 19 for sewer system work. Options for parking include: nearby parkades, further down Summer Street and on Sackville Street (alongside the Public Gardens), and near the base of Citadel Hill, off Bell Road.

A moment with a sea star's tube feet. Tube feet are like little suction cups on strings. Within each arm, the tube feet use the pressure of the water to move. The tube feet also provide strong suction for pulling apart shells to eat the animal inside!

Every year, Nova Scotia sends the City of Boston a Christmas tree to thank them for the help and kindness they provided after the 1917 Halifax Harbour Explosion. /a small thread. news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/10/2... #museum30 #kindness #NovaScotia

IT'S TIIIIIIIIIIIIME!!! ...to visit your Museum, look for hidden red Lego bricks, and enjoy Bricks By The Sea! The Museum is open daily 9:30am to 4:30pm. It is a busy weekend for Halifax, with a parade, a game (Go Moose!) and more. Plan your visit and travel accordingly!

Please note that the Indigo parking lot next to the Museum will be closed on Nov. 18 and part of Nov. 19 for sewer system work. Options for parking include: nearby parkades, Summer Street and on Sackville Street (alongside the Public Gardens), and near the base of Citadel Hill.

Not a baby owl, but a northern saw-whet owl. An uncommon observation, these teeny owls love to eat mice. The average size: Length: 7.1-8.3 in (18-21 cm) Weight: 2.3-5.3 oz (65-151 g) Wingspan: 16.5-18.9 in (42-48 cm) #Owl #NovaScotia #Nature

A big shoutout to our incredible staff and dedicated volunteers who make our museums welcoming places every day! Their kindness and passion bring Nova Scotia’s extraordinary stories to you. Thank you ❤️ #worldkindnessday #novascotia #museumlife

Happy to be behind the scenes (and sometimes awkwardly laying down in the woods) to capture the perfect moment! Today, we celebrate our museum social media managers and content creators whose background work brings the Nova Scotia Museum's stories to life online. #NovaScotia #Background #museum30

On this Thursday, we're looking at snake skin. In one photo, we have dried, preserved scales and skin from a black garter snake. In the other photo, a piece of shed garter snake skin.

We love using our digital channels to pull back the curtain and share the behind-the-scenes stories of what we do. It’s a great way to show you the passion, the process, and the people that make everything happen. #museum30 #digital #behindthescenes #novascotia

Canadian Lynx are ENDANGERED in NS. A medium sized wild cat, they have reddish-brown coats and recognizable, black-tipped ears tufts and a short, black-tipped tail. They appear to walk with a tilt because their rear legs are longer than their front legs. #NSWildifeSpotlight #SpeciesAtRisk #Lynx

Now on view - Bricks By The Sea. An exhibit you won't want to "Lego" of. 🙃

A reminder that in recognition and respect for Remembrance Day, the Museum of Natural History will have a delayed opening on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025. We will be open 12:00pm - 4:30pm. Admission is free. #MNH #Halifax #NovaScotia #RemembranceDay #LestWeForget

When you're having a bad day at work, it's nice to have supportive colleagues in all forms. (Just kidding, firefighters, we would never).

Turtle butt.

#WhiteSharks are ENDANGERED. Known for having a pointed snout and large, flat, triangular teeth, their body is stout and coloured grey or brownish grey on top and a white underbelly. The main dorsal fin and pectoral fins are black tipped. An adult can measure 3.8 to 6 meters.

In recognition and respect for Remembrance Day, the Museum of Natural History will have a delayed opening on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025. We will be open 12:00pm - 4:30pm. Admission is free. #MNH #Halifax #NovaScotia #RemembranceDay #LestWeForget

The Blanding’s Turtle #SkɨtekmujuawtiMikjij is ENDANGERED in NS. A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. The distinctly yellow chin, throat and plastron is contrasted with the darker carapace covered in an array of spots. #NovaScotia Recovery-plan-Blandings-Turtle.pdf

POV: you're a frog at the museum getting misted each morning. #POV #Museum #Frog