[Nhcoll-l] Bird eggs in ethanol

[Simon Moore]

Hi Belinda,

John’s answer is just what I would have advised as well but do keep a watchful eye on pH level, especially once the eggs and embryos have been preserved. Just keep on renewing the fluid if the level drops below 5.5 or even 6, else you will have gradual decalcification occurring. 
Many such pigments are alcohol labile so photos are essential and it would be interesting to see which pigments remain.

With all good wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
www.natural-history-conservation.com



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> On 26 May 2023, at 02:40, John E Simmons <simmons.johne at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Belinda,
> Yes, you can preserve the eggs in ethanol as you have described. I have preserved bird eggs as well as reptile eggs this way and it works fine. 
> 
> My recommendation is to thaw the eggs in 70% ethanol so that preservation can begin as soon as the tissue is unfrozen, as this prevent bacterial growth. As the eggs thaw, inject 70% ethanol into the eggs as you describe, taking care not to over-fill them. After 24 hr, you should check the concentration of the alcohol in case the fluid from the eggs dilutes it.
> 
> THe only potential negative effect the ethanol might have on the shell as it is possible it could dissolve some of the pigments, so take color photos of the eggs with a color standard in the frame as a reference.
> 
> --John
> 
> John E. Simmons
> Writer and Museum Consultant
> Museologica
> and
> Associate Curator of Collections
> Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
> Penn State University
> and
> Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia
> Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima
> 
> 
> On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 7:25 PM Bauer, Belinda <Belinda.Bauer at tmag.tas.gov.au> wrote:
> Hello,
>  I have a collection of frozen bird eggs that I need to catalogue and move out of the freezer.  
>  Many are from listed/ threatened species and important to keep but are damaged or crushed and not suitable for blowing.
> All still have some sort of contents, even a few that look to have small embryos.
>  I was wondering if I could preserve these sorts of specimens in ethanol? 
> I couldn’t find any resources online about if ethanol has any long term implications on the shell, but I assume it would be ok.
>  Do any other collections have bird eggs prepared in this way?  Can I just inject a small amount of fluid into eggs that have hairline cracks to ensure fluid penetration?
>  Kind regards
> Belinda Belinda Bauer  |  Collection Manager - Vertebrate Zoology
>  Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery  |  Department of State Growth
> 19 Davey Street, Hobart TAS 7000  | GPO Box 1164, Hobart TAS 7001
> Ph. (03) 6165 6899  |  Mob 0438 170 831
>  Please Note: My current work pattern is Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays
>   
> 
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