bird collections bird collections scientific specimens consisting birds parts research resource science birds scientific disciplines information birds useful collections archives diversity serve diverse needs scientific researchers artists collections include variety preparation types emphasizing preservation feathers skeletons soft tissues increasingly combination thereof modern collections range size small teaching collections find nature reserve visitor center small college large research collections world major natural history museums largest contain hundreds thousands specimens bird collections function like libraries specimens arranged taxonomic order scientists oversee maintenance use growth collections available study visits loans history bird collections origin roots modern bird collections found 19th century europeans intent documenting global plant animal diversity fashion collect display natural wealthy cabinet able large collections networks field collectors early collections intended scientific study collectors gave importance aesthetics scientific value grew scientific pursuit later growth early scientific bird collections included belonging germany england france collections grew size increasing maritime activity exploration example collected bird specimens travels years return england bird collections inspired theory evolution natural selection paris museum bird specimens grew berlin museum specimens growing bird specimens museum established sir appear perished moved early specimens described general synopsis birds lost possibly poor preservation technique scale collections grew point needed space time earliest days collecting dominant method bird observation study approach diminished growth discipline use mist photography blood sampling dna studies development use new techniques studying birds reduced need collect specimens research collections continue act vital shared resource science particularly taxonomy conservation era mass extinction bird collections evidence lost species collection preservation techniques historically bird specimens collected firearms dust shot preferred reduce damage specimens today specimens come variety sources salvaged birds killed window communications tower strikes domestic cats catch fisheries die offs disease vehicle strikes accidental sources mortality world bird collections argued inadequate documenting diversity taxonomic geographic temporal perspectives parts tropical regions considered represented particular museums taxa continue actively collected generally firearms mist nets permitting agencies oversee activities countries techniques preserve birds attempted early 16th century shown writings provided instructions removal use salt preserve bird specimens book birds improved 17th century range included ash potassium salt alcohol plant extracts early days bird collections specimens mounted unrealistic positions wings raised flight kept open colours prone fading specimens prone damage beetles berlin started tightly enclosed glass mount prevent pest damage time managed find techniques preserve specimens loss colour technique secret similar results later achieved salt ground pepper drying month threads holding bird natural position modern collections salvaged collected birds preserved number ways traditional preparation study skin body inside skin removed replaced cotton final result resembles bird lying wings folded posture developed enable skins kept protect insect light damage complete skeleton desired flat skin prepared bones muscle digestive soft tissue carefully removed feathers skin stretched flat dried recent preparation method pioneered removes bones complete skeleton producing round skin bill legs called rom set wing leg bones remain skin preparation called north_america alternatively entire bird soft parts associated preparations described preserved alcohol methods supplemental preparations example wing removed preserved separately spread wing better study flight feathers tissue sample removed frozen molecular analyses recording bird song collection archived molecular samples sound recordings require bird collected killed finally bird rotten skin feathers preserved case salvaged specimens skeleton preserved dried tissue removed skeletons beetle larvae genus past routinely added skins protect destruction insects specimens prepared today generally protected initial freezing period kill insects eggs followed keeping high quality museum cases climate controlled room specimen data associated data available usually directly specimen scientific value specimens little value research accompanying information time place bird found collected important information mass sex fat deposition degree skull written label unique field museum number modern museum include information specimen types methods prepare bird modern collections seek maximize utility preserved individual includes recording detailed information modern specimens include tissue sample preserved genetic study online access collections data increasingly available cross institutional database covering millions bird records development uses bird collections bird collections wide variety purposes biological species including birds represented vast majority specimens skins modern times explicitly designated original description taxon members species compared confirm identification rigorous studies taxonomy based specimens bird collections taxonomic studies rely morphological genetic characters determine species limits evolutionary relationships museum specimens preferred source scoring characteristics allow studies replicated repeat study specimens verify conclusions case molecular studies preservation specimen source tissue sample gather genetic data recommended genetic analysis yields surprising results original specimen crucial studies usually obtained capture obtained old museum specimens valuable studies alternatively argued examination undertaken archived photographs killing study piece addition taxonomic research collections provide information relevant study variety questions including comparative anatomy ecology behavior disease conservation forensic use collections identify species involved aircraft bird strikes imported materials containing bird parts birds killed human activities legal illegal addition collections identify bird bones prehistoric human sites species origin feathers human cultural artifacts collections heavily artists particularly production plates field guides close observation opportunity manipulation provided preserved study skins makes field observations photography important basis painters field guide plates birds bird species unique distinguish immature adults males females breeders non breeders different specimens required produce thorough plate identification given species accurate colour measurements possible specimens bird collections useful retrospective studies bird collections offer potential current future researchers depth morphological molecular study past diversity earliest famous examples use egg collections 19th early 20th centuries determining ddt producing collected eggs known work day help establish causes declines help making conservation strategies save bird possible extinction threats bird populations grow continue historical specimens valuable documenting impacts human activities causes decline threatened species possible uses bird specimens known today arise future collection debates issue birds continue actively collected research subject debate examples found lively exchanges opposed collecting believe current collecting unnecessary arguably motivated personal field scores individuals competition museums result strict scientific rationale collecting extreme cases species verge extinction pose threat bird populations cases necessity specimens claimed new technology digital photography blood sample analysis mist individuals instead finally time rampant species scientists lead providing example local people kill hunt birds techniques involving killing bird feasible specimen viewed simply proponents collecting counter argue compared millions birds killed year habitat destruction domestic cats window strikes tower kills scientists collect thousand birds year worldwide populations quickly recover episode collecting long habitat remains supporters continued collecting point greater scientific utility legacy museum specimens compared blood samples photographs argue collecting research offers source mortality positive outcome birds terms biological knowledge gained taking small blood samples wild birds viewed harmless alternative collecting reduces survival provide benefits specimen scientists pointed bird populations represent resources scientific collecting represents tiny non proportion annual bird mortality examples exist species extinction directly contributed museum collecting ivory billed
Bird collections