[Nhcoll-l] Converting bird mounts

Mon Sep 4 03:28:30 EDT 2023

Hi Mackenzie

I’d also recommend caution in decisions to demount specimens. There is a loss of information during this process – information that can be gained from the style and detail in the prep materials and techniques used. This information can sometimes be used to help reconnect a specimen with its history or be used for other purposes. There is also information in the base the specimen may stand on, even where there is nothing written on it. Some museums routinely demounted birds to save space only to regret it later.

Best
Alan

Dr Alan Knox
Emeritus Head of Museums
University of Aberdeen
King's College
Aberdeen AB24 3SW

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Sent: Monday, September 4, 2023 8:06 AM
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Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Converting bird mounts

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Dear Mackenzie,

I suggest to reconsider the idea of altering a mount. I can understand that making a study-skin of it, has a positive effects for storage, but the mounts will suffer a great deal of damage. Its in a way like taking a old painting out of its frame and roiling it up to safe space.

If the other option would be to discard them, then you can try using chopped cherry laurel leaves, which soften the skin very nicely. But then you will have to take out the old mannequin from inside and re-wire everything to an adequate study-skin mount. This is a procedure that requires a lot of practice, knowledge of bird taxidermy, time and patience. And don't forget about good PPE, since old bird mounts usually have a lot of banned preservation chemicals.

There is a fantastic older paper on the subject of cherry laurel in German:

Wechsler K., J. Fiebig, A. Henche, U. Plackinger, M. Rauer-Gömann, and H. Scheidt. 2001. Über das Weichen trockengefallener Alkohol- und Formalinpräparate, Herbarblätter und von Tapagewebe. Der Präparator 47(1):15–31.

All the best,

Am 03.09.23 um 21:03 schrieb Kirchner-Smith, Mackenzie:
Hello all,

I have a question about the process of converting bird mounts into skins, or at least making them more compact to be properly stored in drawers with skins.

I have some mounted birds where they are the only specimen we have of that species, and I would like to store them with the skins. I know I have seen mounts ‘converted’ into skins, such that the feet and pushed down and (when necessary) the head is straightened out to be in line with the body. We have some in our collection that I can tell used to be mounts. Has anyone ever done this, or know how to go about doing this? These are birds with wires in the legs, etc. I’m not sure if they should just be moved or if it would be better to try and soften them somehow before. Or if this ‘conversion’ isn’t a recommended course of action at all.

Thank you for any help or advice in advance.

- Mackenzie

Mackenzie Kirchner-Smith, she/her
Museum Curator, Integrated Biology
San Bernardino County Museum
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