Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection
AccipitersOn Saturday, Aug. 19th our Intermediate Birding Class went on a field trip to the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M Univ. in College Station. We went there to take advantage of their extensive collection of bird skins. The skins we studied were all birds we studied in class, and were notable for their ID challenges. The collection is curated by Dr. Keith Arnold, a retired professor from the college. He met us there and opened the collection for us on a day when the museum is usually closed.
What an astounding and unexpected experience! Our class was able to hold and compare around 80 skins. From accipiters to terns, finches to vireos and more.
I feel so fortunate to have had this experience, one that I suppose very few hobbyist birders have the opportunity to do.
Our instructor, Cliff Shackelford, did a very good thing for some very lucky birders.
Orioles
Orioles
posted by Laurie @ 4:09 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
As a biology major, I took an ornithology class. All I remember is beautiful wood cabinets full of tubes, full of birds. Now, 25 years later, and spending a good amount of my free time watching and reading about birds, I would give just about ANYTHING to take that class again!
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