Return Visit to the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity

In November 2008, the OYBC visited this excellent museum. We were treated to up-close views of many types of bird skins, including extinct species, and we viewed other species of nature. We learned how to prepare our own bird skins, which is a fundamental aspect of ornithological study.

    • Photos of our 2008 visit.

We were long overdue for a return visit to this fantastic place that is not open to the public in a normal way. Thanks to our friends in the Central Ohio Chapter, we have another opportunity to visit this research museum.

The Central Ohio OYBC chapter will be hosting a trip to the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity on 
Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

But this is NOT gonna be your typical museum tour, where all you do is look and wonder. This is gonna be a HANDS-ON event, created just for our group by the museum’s curator, Angelika Nelson.

Here’s what’s in store for you:

  • Our group will have a private tour of the museum’s collection of bird study skins, taxidermy, eggs & nests. Did you fear that you would never have a chance to see an ivory-billed woodpecker in your lifetime? Well, here’s an opportunity to study one up close, if not in the wild! The collection is massive and you will be amazed at what they have!
  • We will then work in small groups and rotate every half-hour through learning stations, including:
  1. Taxonomy: Work with other young birders to sort birds into groups according to their taxonomy, discuss each group’s traits, compare to AOU taxonomy.
  2. Identification: Using field guides and your own knowledge, see how well you can do at identifying various North American bird study skins. How many can you correctly identify?
  3. Birds of the world: These are NOT your backyard birds! Take on the challenge of trying to identify birds from all over the world.
  4. Anatomy: At this station you will explore dissection, observe feathers under microscopes, and learn about carotenoids vs. melanins.

Dr. Jackie Augustine will join us and will provide us with a bird skinning demonstration. How are those study skins prepared? Watch & understand this amazing process which provides all of us with marvelous study skins that teach us so much!

This will be an incredible learning event for OYBC and we hope you can be there! The museum is located at 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus 43212 (not far from Lennox Shopping Center). Let us know if you need a ride and we’ll do everything we can to get you there!

For more information about the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity, and for driving directions, go to their website:

http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~jfreuden/systematics/museum/webfiles/location.htm

This event is for OYBC members. Parents are welcome, too, but not younger siblings due to the fragility of the collection and the nature of the work we’ll be doing that day.

If you know someone who would like to join OYBC, it’s fast & easy to do so online! Just go to: 
www.columbusaudubon.org …click on “Groups”…click on “Ohio Young Birders”…click on “Join Us”

In order for us to prepare for this event, RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED! Please reserve your place for this event by contacting Gerry Brevoort, Central Ohio OYBC Advisor, by email at jbrevoor@columbus.rr.com by January 16.