John
Your request about what to do with the beachwashed possible fulmar raises a
few points that are often not realised by the general public, and even by
many birders.
Firstly, such carcasses are of scientific interest and where possible
should be retained for the state museum. Museums usually gladly accept
frozen bodies almost nomatter what the condition. Museum specimens may be
preserved as a study skin, or the entire body can be preserved in formalin
and stored indefinitely in alcohol, or if the specimen is well decomposed,
it may still be very useful as a skeletal specimen. Therefore, always carry
several plastic bags to wrap the body in, label it carefully with details
of location and date, and whack it in the freezer until arrangements can be
made to transfer it to the museum. The other great advantage of having a
specimen in the museum is that, once it is catalogued and preserved in the
museum collection, its identity can be checked by any doubting Thomas' for
ever more.
Therefore, in your case, I recommend that your mother/brother collect the
specimen and take it to the scientific staff at the Phillip Island Penguin
Parade [ask for Peter Dann or Ros Jessup] and ask them to ensure that it
gets to the Museum of Victoria. They will know how to handle it.
Alternatively, I am sure that the local office of the Department of Natural
Resources/ Parks Victoria would accept a frozen specimen for despatch top
the museum.
Peter Menkhorst
Flora and Fauna Program, NRE
Hi everyone,
my brother and mother have found a likely Southern Fulmar beachwashed near
Phillip Island in very good condition. I thought this would be a fairly
rare record but I may be wrong. They were wondering if this is worthy of
report or even of further identification by someone more knowledgeable of
seabirds. Any suggestions or thoughts.
Best Wishes
John Boyce
Department of Microbiology
Monash University
Clayton 3168
Ph 03 99054838
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