[Nhcoll-l] Bird Mounts Available for Transfer

[Knights, Curtis]

Greetings NHCOLL-L Members,

>From 2019 - 2024, the USFWS investigated two individuals who were engaging in significant smuggling of taxidermy bird mounts and bird eggs into the United States, several of which were sourced from recently poached wildlife. As a result of this investigation, over 1,300 bird mounts and over 2,500 bird eggs were seized.

As the case agent, I'm responsible for coordinating the final disposition of the evidence. The majority of the seized bird mounts have been transferred to the USFWS National Wildlife Property Repository in Colorado, with the remaining available mounts located in New York City. Interested institutions must be able to send a driver to retrieve the mounts in New York City.

Attached is a spreadsheet of available bird mounts. The spreadsheet has three tabs – “Residence," “Lake House,” and "PA Pckgs." I am seeking institutions that are interested in having multiple mounts transferred to their collections. If interested, please indicate which Item Numbers (some mounts have multiple specimens attached) you are requesting and return via email.

Photos of the mounts are available in ZIP folders at the following link: https://fws-fileshare.box.com/s/5wawi3hwaljz52a0rumd5ktnx6wt8pjt

I will coordinate directly with institutions that submit their list of requested mounts.

DOJ sentencing press release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-men-sentenced-largest-ever-bird-mount-trafficking-case



Thank you and I look forward to your responses.

Curtis Knights
Senior Special Agent
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
OLE/DERTSU
701 San Marco Blvd.
Suite 7-West
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 899-5209
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