The Museum of Biological Diversity’s Tetrapod Collection is a resource for research and teaching. Comprising over 35,000 specimens, it includes the birds and land vertebrates (mammals, amphibians, reptiles). The collection receives a significant amount of use in teaching, especially as a source of demonstration specimens for EEOB’s Ohio Birds course. This collection has received less attention over time than some of our others but under the leadership of Director Dr. Bryan Carstens and Curator Dr. Tamaki Yuri, there is much new activity. This includes a much-needed upgrade in housing for specimens supported by a National Science Foundation grant that was just awarded.
With respect to birds, the number of new specimens added to the collection has increased recently due to salvaging activities by citizens scientists and Ohio State students. A large number of bird specimens come from Lights Out programs. Lights Out programs are operated by volunteers and collect carcasses of birds that have been killed by large building windows during spring and fall migrations. They collect data on bird collisions including species name, location, date, building name, side of building and percent of glass on the side of the building to inform building owners about the severity of issues and propose building construction practice changes using the data in collaboration with Ohio Lights Out. The collection receives over 300 bird specimens from these efforts every year.
Shown above is “AfroDuck,” a former resident of Mirror Lake, much beloved by students. He now resides in perpetuity in the Tetrapod Collection.
