Ornithology Collections: Specimen Donation and Tracking

Collection Manager: Susan Hochgraf

Office: BioPhysics 127

Office Phone: 486-8945

Email: susan.hochgraf@uconn.edu

Preparators: Alejandro Rico Guevara, Jorge deLeon, Margaret Rubega

What To Do If You Find a Dead Bird, and Want to Donate It to the UConn Research Collection

Our collection of bird skins, tissues and bones is currently growing largely through salvage: we accept birds found dead by members of the public. These specimens add to the "library of birdlife" we maintain. Your donations make it possible for future researchers to investigate the bird populations of Connecticut.

If you find a dead bird, the very first thing to do is to determine if it is fresh enough to make a useful specimen. A bird that hasn't been dead for long will be round, not flattened or sagging; the eyes will be full and still moist; the feathers will not fall out when you handle the bird; the body will not smell. In contrast, a specimen that has already begun to decay will be collapsed, and may be oozing fluids; the eyes will be sunken and dry-looking; the feathers will be loosely attached and fall out easily when tugged, or when you handle the bird; there may be insects (ants, maggots) on or in the specimen; and the body will smell bad.

Specimens showing advanced signs of decay are best left where they are. Specimens in good condition should be sealed in a plastic bag (a ziploc with the air squeezed out of it is ideal) with a note containing the following information: your name and contact information; the location (at least town) where the bird was found; the date; and any information you may have about the bird (e.g., how it died - "Hit a window"). If you have the means to measure the bird's weight at the time you picked it up, that information is also very helpful. Once the bird is sealed in a plastic bag, PUT IT IN THE FREEZER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Freezing the body arrests the process of decay, and maximizes the likelihood we can prepare the specimen in a way that will preserve it.

The collection manager works part time (one day per week); she is in the collection on Thursdays. Accordingly, Thursdays are the best days to bring a specimen you wish to donate to the collection. You can call the manager at 860-486-8945 to ensure that someone will be present to take the specimen from you at the time you are due to arrive. If you cannot bring your donation by on a Thursday, contact someone in the Rubega lab at 486-3839 or 486-0309 to arrange a meeting to drop the specimen off.

Inventory of Donated Specimens

(as specimens are prepared, they will move off this list and onto the collection database )

Date Donated	Common name	Species	Prep Priority Score	Condition / Comments	Data	Status
17-May-09	Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis	1	good	-	Drying
22-Oct-08	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	2	fair	yes	Drying
29-Sep-08	White-Throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	3	fair	-	Drying
29-Sep-08	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	2	good	yes	Drying
14-Aug-08	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	fair	loc.	Drying
23-Feb-08	Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	2	good	yes	Drying
2008	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	good	loc.	Drying
23-Nov-07	Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	2	good	yes	Drying
9-Sep-07	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	2	good	yes	Drying
30-Apr-07	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	3	good	yes	Drying
22-Jan-07	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	3	good	yes	Drying
2006	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	2	fair	loc.	Drying
9-Oct-05	Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea	2	xgood	yes	Drying
30-Sep-05	imm. Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	3	good	yes	Drying
20-Jul-05	Clapper Rail	Rallus longirostris	1	good	yes	Drying
10-Dec-04	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	2	good	yes	Drying
10-Oct-04	Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	3	good	loc.	Drying
21-Sep-04	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	3	good	loc.	Drying
18-May-04	Rose Breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	3	good/excellent	loc.	Drying
18-Mar-04	White-Throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	3	good	yes	Drying
12-Jan-04	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	2	good	yes	Drying
13-Apr-03	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	2	good	-	Drying
21-May-02	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	2	good	-	Drying
9-Sep-01	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Drying
2-Sep-01	Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	3	good	loc.	Drying
5-Aug-01	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	2	good	yes	Drying
9-Jun-01	Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea	2	good	loc.	Drying
8-May-01	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	2	good	loc.	Drying
5-May-01	Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	1	good	loc.	Drying
26-Oct-00	White-Throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	3	good	-	Drying
Fall 2000	Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens	1	good	loc.	Drying
26-Apr-00	Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	2	good	loc.	Drying
1-Mar-00	Black and White Warbler	Mniotilta varia	1	good	-	Drying
22-Jan-00	Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	2	good	loc.	Drying
10-Sep-97	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	-	Drying
13-Jul	Thrush?	undet. Turdidae	3	good	yes	Drying
-	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	2	fair	loc.	Drying
-	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	fair	-	Drying
-	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	fair	loc.	Drying
-	White-Throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	3	fair	-	Drying
-	Eastern Screech Owl	Otis asio	3	fair	-	Drying
-	Black throated Blue Warbler	Dendroica caerulescens	1	good	-	Drying
-	Northern Parula	Parula americana	1	good	loc.	Drying
-	Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus	1	good	loc.	Drying
-	Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia	2	good	-	Drying
-	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	2	good	-	Drying
-	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	2	good	-	Drying
-	Veery	Catharus fuscescens	2	good	-	Drying
-	American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis	3	good	loc.	Drying
-	Rose Breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	3	good	-	Drying
-	Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	3	good	-	Drying
-	Eastern Screech Owl	Otis asio	3	good	-	Drying
24-Mar-09	Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	3	good	yes	Frozen
24-Jan-09	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	1	good	yes	Frozen
24-Jan-09	Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	2	good	yes	Frozen
21-Jan-09	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	1	good	yes	Frozen
28-Oct-08	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	2	good	yes	Frozen
28-Oct-08	White-Throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	3	good	yes	Frozen
9-Oct-08	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	1	good	yes	Frozen
7-Oct-08	Pine Warbler	Dendroica pinus	1	good	yes	Frozen
18-Sep-08	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	good	yes	Frozen
31-Aug-08	Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperi	1	good	yes	Frozen
29-Aug-08	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	good	yes	Frozen
27-Aug-08	Black-throated Blue Warbler	Dendroica caerulescens	1	good	yes	Frozen
16-Jun-08	Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens	1	good	yes	Frozen
24-May-08	Barred Owl	Strix varia	1	good	yes	Frozen
20-May-08	Bird	undet. Aves	3	good	loc.	Frozen
12-May-08	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	yes	Frozen
1-May-08	Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	1	good	yes	Frozen
22-Apr-08	Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	1	good	yes	Frozen
24-Mar-08	Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperi	1	good	yes	Frozen
22-Mar-08	Eastern Screech-Owl (Red)	Otus asio	2	good	yes	Frozen
5-Mar-08	American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	1	good	yes	Frozen
24-Jan-08	Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperi	1	good	yes	Frozen
1-Jan-08	Eastern Screech-Owl (Grey)	Otus asio	2	good	yes	Frozen
22-Dec-07	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	1	good	loc.	Frozen
22-Dec-07	Barred Owl	Strix varia	1	good	yes	Frozen
16-Nov-07	Hawk	Accipiter	2	good	yes	Frozen
8-Oct-07	Eastern Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalmus	1	good	yes	Frozen
29-Sep-07	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata	1	good	yes	Frozen
23-Sep-07	Sharp Shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	2	good	yes	Frozen
18-Sep-07	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	good	yes	Frozen
6-Sep-07	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	2	good	yes	Frozen
30-Aug-07	Monk Parakeet	Myiopsitta monachus	1	good	yes	Frozen
19-Jul-07	Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	1	good	yes	Frozen
6-Jul-07	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	yes	Frozen
June_2007	Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	1	good	yes	Frozen
16-May-07	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	good	yes	Frozen
11-Apr-07	Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	1	good	yes	Frozen
12-Dec-06	Eastern Screech-Owl	Otus asio	2	good	yes	Frozen
19-Nov-06	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	2	good	yes	Frozen
9-Oct-06	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata	1	good	yes	Frozen
15-Aug-06	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Frozen
15-Aug-06	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Frozen
30-Jun-06	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Frozen
30-Jun-06	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	3	good	loc.	Frozen
1-Jun-06	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Frozen
31-May-06	Kentucky Warbler	Oporornis formosus	1	good	yes	Frozen
23-May-06	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Frozen
23-May-06	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Frozen
23-May-06	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	3	good	loc.	Frozen
14-Oct-05	Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	1	good	yes	Frozen
2004-2005	Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus	3	good	loc.	Frozen
29-Oct-04	Barred Owl	Strix varia	1	good	yes	Frozen
10-Oct-04	Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	3	good	yes	Frozen
2-Aug-04	Red-Bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	1	good	loc.	Frozen
20-Feb-04	American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea	1	good	yes	Frozen
15-Feb-04	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	2	good	yes	Frozen
7-Jun-02	undet. Passerine	undet. Passerine	3	xgood	yes	Frozen
29-May-02	Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis	1	good	loc.	Frozen
10-May-02	Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus	3	xgood	loc.	Frozen
20-Apr-02	Wren (carolina?)	Thryothorus ludovicianus	1	good	loc.	Frozen
17-Mar-02	Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus	3	good	loc.	Frozen
25-Jul-01	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	2	xgood	loc.	Frozen
3-Jul-00	Warbler	undet. Passeri	3	fair	loc.	Frozen
13-Jun-00	Eastern Screech Owl	Megascops asio	3	good	loc.	Frozen
26-Dec-99	Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	2	good	loc.	Frozen
9-Sep-99	Eastern Screech Owl	Megascops asio	3	good	loc.	Frozen
2-Jun-94	Redpoll	Carduelis sp.	3	good	loc.	Frozen
31-Dec-93	Sharp Shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	2	good	loc.	Frozen
20-Nov	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	1	good	yes	Frozen
-	Owl (Grt. Horned?)	Bubo virginianus	2	fair	-	Frozen
-	Peep?	undet. Charadiiformes	3	fair/poor	-	Frozen
-	Green Winged Teal	Anas carolinensis	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Ring-necked Dove	Streptopelia capicola	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Wren (carolina?)	Thryothorus ludovicianus	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Yellow Billed Sandpiper	Yellow Billed Sandpiper	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Northern Parula	Parula americana	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Warbler	Oporornis sp.	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica	1	good	-	Frozen
-	Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	2	good	-	Frozen
-	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	2	good	loc.	Frozen
-	Sharp Shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	2	good	-	Frozen
-	Red Tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Red Tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Warbler sp.	Dendroica sp.	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Screech Owl	Megascops sp.	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Screech Owl	Megascops sp.	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Hawk/Falcon	undet. Falconiformes	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Gull sp.	undet. Laridae	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	3	good	-	Frozen
-	Cedar Waxwing (x9)	Bombycilla cedrorum (x9)	3	good/excellent	-	Frozen
-	Aves	Aves	3	no skin	-	Frozen
-	Aves	Aves	3	no skin/no head	-	Frozen
-	Aves	Aves	3	no skin/no head	-	Frozen
-	Aves	Aves	3	no skin/no head	-	Frozen
-	Aves	Aves	3	no skin/no head	-	Frozen
-	Aves	Aves	3	no skin/no head	-	Frozen
-	Aves	Aves	3	no skin/no head	-	Frozen
-	Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	3	skin only fair	-	Frozen
-	Hawk/Falcon	undet. Falconiformes	3	skin only fair	-	Frozen
-	Sharp Shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	2	xgood	-	Frozen

Useful and Amusing Links

Feather Identification Resource Online! The Feather Atlas of North American Birds provided high-resolution scans of flight feathers of the major groups of birds; useful for comparison with found feathers whose origin you aren't sure of.

Images of Bird Wings Online. The Slater Museum, at the University of Puget Sound, provides high-resolution images of their entire collection of spread (open) bird wings. Useful for studying flight style as a function of wing morphology.