how are birds traditionally preserved?
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any other questions? Joe
way to help people out joe. someone asks a simple question and you gove a smart a$$ remark. If you don't know the answer, then don't even reply. Anthony, a lot of people dry preserve skin, inject the feet.
Have to agree with you James M, see a lot of smart a$$ answers on here, kind of makes me wonder if most are really smart a$$ answers or either they dont know the answer and wast to seem smart. You gave a plain and simple answer the way it should be on here.
many methods can be used to preserve birds, most include some sort of a Dry preserve method, but some include a liquid preservitave. most Dry methods include an "instant preserve" witch is made up of mostly talc and powerfull bacteria killing agents. others use plain ol borax. Both work very well. another important factor to a good preserve is to "de-grease" the skin by removing all the fat and flesh from the skin. this also has a few dif. methods. the most common is to use a wire wheel or wire brush followed by some sort of soap soak. others include using a harsh chemical like gas or alcohol.
another step in preserving birds is to use the preserved skin. AKA mounting. most of the bodys used by todays taxidermist are pre-made out of foam, however some taxidermist choose to make there own out of wood wool and string. Many good taxidermist can make a bird body in less than 10 min. Most taxidermist also use artificial heads and necks, however again some use the skull from the bird itself. and choose to make there own necks.
Bird feet tend to shrink as it is very dificult to remove the flesh/fat from them. So most taxidermist tend to inject the feet with a liquid preservitave and also a fast setting epoxy.
I hope this will help with the questions you have. By the way. all of the info I have just stated is in the archives, and can be seen by clicking on the orange search button on the left side of the page. And type in "how to preserve a bird". If you do not have an orange search button you can go to www.taxidermy.net and you will find it on the left side of the page.
Now I have 2 questions. Am I the only one who sees the same questions over and over again? Am I the only one who gets people in the shop asking "I wana do it myself, how do you do it?"
Joseph R Osborn (Hunter's Dream Taxidermy)
Don't you feel better when you answer a question with a helpful answer rather than a smart a$$ remark? Watch how you feel when you're responding to a question! Most of the time an arrogant attitude shows up. Keep your cool as you're only punishing yourself because of your feelings and attitude. Healthwise, it's better for your sanity.
Anyone can click on the orange button here or surf the web and look for answers. Sometimes, though, someone needs an answer instantly and doesn't have time to search. I believe that's a reason for having a forum where help is available.
No, I do not feel better. I had no guilt in the first place. The smart a$$ remarks were made in my second post. the post was titled "bird taxidermy" Was this a question, comment, consern, or a statement? I figured it was a Question. Then a question was asked "how are birds traditionally preserved?" This was answered, "with taxidermy" this is a true statement.
I do not know who asked this question, sure it was Anthony, and given the fact he can spell his own name leads me to belive he is not a 6 year old with a basic question.
Taxidermy is standard in one aspect, if you cannot mount it NOW, you should freeze it to buy some time. If you are not a taxidermist this will give you all the time you need to do some research.
Here is what I think. I think Anthony, has an animal he wants to have mounted, but cannot have it done for whatever reason. given the time of year, it is more than likely a songbird that got smucked by his car or flew into the bay window on his house that no taxidermist will touch. Now when he goes to court he can say "some taxidermist named Joe Osborn from Hunter's Dream Taxidermy told me how to mount it." Nice. Or this is a gamebird that was shot last fall and has been in the freezer ever sense. In witch case he has lots of time to do some research. And could be asking a more detailed question. Joe
WELL I HAVE TO AGREE WITH JAMES THIS SIGHT IS FOR HELPING PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.AND SOMETIMES MYSELF I POST A QUESTION I NEED A QUICK ANSWER TO AND I HAVE SEEM TO GET ALOT OF HELP...COME ON JOE YOU KNOW YOU COULDNT GET IN TROUBLE FOR TELLING HIM HOW TO PRESERVE A BRID....IF HE JUMPED OFF A BUILDING COULD HE TELL THEM YOU TOLD HIM HOW TO....COME ON MAN THIS SIGHT IS TO HELP....
ask a generic question, you will get a generic answer. Now had he asked "how do you preserve a birds foot?" he would not have gotten "with taxidermy". Joe
I will first apologize. I was vague in my question, I realized that after I typed it. However, I'm trying not to give away too much of what I am trying to do. I'm a biologist working with DNA of extinct species and I'm trying to figure out how damaged the DNA of preserved birds is. I should have put, "how were birds traditionally preserved in the 19th and early 20th century?"
Williams, S. L. and C. A. Hawks. 1987. History of the preparation materials used in recent mammal specimens Pp. 21-49, in Mammal Collection Management, (H.H. Genoways, C. Jones, and O. L. Rossolima, eds.) Texas Tech University Press, Libbock, Texas. iv + 219 pp.
This was the first comprehensive attempt to catalogue all the materials used during preparation in scientific specimens and taxidermy specimens in the last two centuries. Bird taxidermy and mammal taxidermy is not that different as far as chemicals used. The list includes much of the older literature and probably 75% of all chemicals potentially used. You probably have access to research showing how DNA fragmentation has occurred with certain heavy meatals like lead arsenate, or the sodium based arsenic chemical. I would suggest you post your request for info on the NHCOLL forum, as there are more people who might understand where of you are coming. Either that or contact collection managers of a few of the large bird collections AMNH, USNM, FMNH, CM, ANSP, LACM, etc.
you are a biologist with teachings in DNA? And you come to this site and post this lame question? How much schooling have you had to complete to get your degree in Biology with a DNA background? Do you know how to do research or are you one of those students that paid for someone to do your research papers for you? Do you know how to search Google? Or perhaps visit your local library and read a book on the subject?
And for the others that blasted jrosbor, get a life. A SIMPLE question was asked, and a very simple response was posted. That's all it deserved. Now that the truth is out about the original poster and his supposed credentials you should all apologize to jrosbor for your rude comments. I just hope Anthony doesn't use information posted on this site as "fact" when it isn't published and absolutely NO CREDENTIALS are cited with any response.