Ornithology
The Academy of Natural Sciences maintains an ornithological collection of nearly 200,000 study skins and 15,000 tissue samples. Of great historical importance, specimens in the collection predate the founding of the Academy in 1812 and include important early bird collections from such famous collectors as Alexander Wilson, John Audubon, and John Gould. Large series of data rich specimens have recently been added from the Andes in South American, southeastern Asia, and Australia. The Academy’s ornithology department is actively adding specimens, locally and internationally, at a rate of 1000 specimens per year. (See History of Ornithology at the Academy and More About the Ornithology Collections.)
Please contact Nate Rice for specimen information, coordinating a museum visit, and loan policies:
Nate Rice, Ph.D.
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
TEL 215-299-1125
FAX 215-299-1182
Research and Field Work
Nate’s primary responsibility is to the care and maintenance of the ornithology collection. He also conducts research investigating the evolutionary biology of various neotropical bird groups. His ongoing research interests focus on the systematic relationships of ground antbirds (Formicariidae) and their relatives. Recent publications include: Antbird paraphyly [.pdf, 62KB], Nesting of Myrmornis torquata [.pdf, 127KB], Phylogeny of "Antipitta" Formicariidae [.pdf, 250KB], and Phylogeny of Aphelocoma ecological niche differentiation [.pdf, 737KB].
Nate has field and collecting experience throughout the United States as well as parts of Europe, Africa, Australia, and South America. Current fieldwork has focused on enhancing the Academy’s series of Australian bird specimens. Much of this work is being done in collaboration with the Australian National Wildlife Collection. The addition of eastern North American specimens into the collection is mainly done through salvage work of birds killed in collisions with buildings or washed up on shore during tropical storms.
Volunteer Opportunities
The ornithology department is actively seeking individuals with an interest in ornithology and time available to volunteer. Current volunteers are involved in specimen preparation, database work, digital imaging, archive research, and general curatorial work. College students with work study funds and an interest in ornithology are also encouraged to contact the department. Over that last several years we have had numerous students involved with research and collection management projects. See Volunteering at the Academy for more information.
Links
- VIREO: vireo.ansp.org/
- The most comprehensive image bank for bird photography.
- Delaware Valley Ornithological Club: www.dvoc.org
- DVOC is the organization for birders and bird enthusiasts in the Delaware Valley.
- ORNIS: ornisnet.org
- An Ornithological Information System website for North America.
- ANWC-CSIRO: www.anwc.csiro.au
- This is the website for the Australian National Wildlife Collection.
- Wagner Free Institute of Science: www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org
- A museum of a 19th Century Natural History Museum.