canberrabirds

Specimens of dead birds

To: "'Canberra Birds'" <>
Subject: Specimens of dead birds
From: "Mark Clayton" <>
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:09:37 +1100

Hi all,

 

I, and the chat-line, often get requests about what to do with birds found dead. In fact many people don’t realise that they have potential value as scientific specimens. In Canberra, for those that are not aware of it, is the Australian National Wildlife Collection, held at CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, off the Barton Highway at Crace. This is the Federal Government’s official vertebrate museum collection (except fish) and contains specimens preserved as skins, skeleton and in spirit of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. It is a research museum and as such is not open to the public except on special occasions.

 

So, what do you do if you find a dead bird? If it is in a good condition, try and put some tissue or cotton wool into its throat – this is to stop any blood or gut ooze from leaking on to the feathers. If it is possible try and take some notes on the colour of the iris, bill, legs, toes and claws and things such as facial skin, e.g. Blue-faced Honeyeater, wattles, e.g. as on a Red Wattlebird, or an eye ring, e.g., White-naped Honeyeater. Then wrap the bird in some tissue or toilet paper, or if it is a biggish specimen, in newspaper, then wrap it in a plastic bag and place it in a freezer as soon as possible. At the same time you are wrapping the bird PLEASE take notes on the following: - the date on which you found the bird, the locality as precisely as possible as to where you found the bird, the habitat that you found the bird, what you think is the cause of death e.g. found as road kill, hit window, beach washed, etc, and your name and contact details as the finder. Place all this information in the packet with the bird in such a way that it will not get lost as it may be sometime before it is processed by staff at the ANWC.

 

Having done all that you can then contact any of the following to arrange for the bird to either be picked up or if you are so inclined, to deliver the bird to the ANWC-

● Mark Clayton (h) 02 62413620; ● Robert Palmer, ANWC Collection Manager (w) 02 62421369; ● Ian Mason, ANWC Senior Research Officer (w) 02 62421680; ●Alex Drew, ANWC Research Officer (w) 02 62421552; or ● Dr Leo Joseph, Director of the ANWC (w) 02 62421689. Hopefully someone will be around to take your call!

 

A note of caution! It is technically illegal to have dead birds in your possession but generally the wildlife authorities should not become too concerned if they are told the specimens are going to an authorised State or Federal museum. The decision is yours as to whether you are prepared to take the risk. The ANWC does have licences covering the acquisition and holding of specimens.

 

If anyone wants to know what to do with banding recoveries involving live or dead birds, they can contact any of the Canberra banders or the Australian Bird and Bat banding Schemes on email . If people want more information please contact me.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

 

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