Whether it's crocuses poking up, songbirds and snowbirds returning or warmer weather replacing the doldrums of winter, spring is back in the Boothbay region.

Spring is also returning to the water, and the Maine State Aquarium is getting ready for the season.

The aquarium will host its annual set-up day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 20 to get ready for the season and is welcoming volunteers to help set up for the season, Aquarium Manager Aimee Hayden-Roderiques said.

“By springtime, the aquarium has become a storage/project area – and it takes quite a lot of work to get it back into shape for our annual Memorial Day Weekend,” she said. “This includes, and is no small task, getting the tanks whipped back into shape and ready for critters.”

Volunteers are needed to assist in prepping tanks in advance of the visiting hordes of visitors.

“We actually need to get the tank inserts (backgrounds), subfloors and sediment into the tanks and try to replicate natural habitats as best as we can for each species designated in each exhibit tank,” Hayden-Roderiques said. “We also, if the tides are working for us, do some minor collections around the area to help beef up our seaweed, fish and invertebrate stocks.

“We are always low this time of year, having tried to lessen the winter holding load in the fall.”

Hayden-Roderiques said animals are supplied to schools, so stored numbers of animals and specimen are depleted.

But, more importantly the tanks need to be prepped in anticipation of animals arriving.

“We will run the tanks with water and sediments for a few weeks before putting the critters in, just to make sure everything is working well and that the appropriate environmental conditions are right in the tanks,” Hayden-Roderiques said. “In addition to the 'fun' stuff, we put volunteers to work cleaning tanks in the holding room because that is always necessary.”

Volunteers are given a one-day pass to visit the aquarium later in the season. Anyone planning to help should bring a bagged lunch and dress appropriately. For more information, email aquarium@maine.gov or call 207-633-9542.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.