[Nhcoll-l] Keeping bills shut

[Knox, Dr Alan G.]

Hi Nina

I use small bits cut from soft plastic tubing. Very easy to pop on & take off when the skin has dried. Photo attached of some of the ones I use for small passerines. Could probably be used for larger birds as well.

Alan

Dr Alan Knox
Emeritus Head of Museums
University Collections
University of Aberdeen
AB24 3AA

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Black, Nina
Sent: 20 November 2025 14:57
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Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Keeping bills shut

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Hi All,

Does anyone have advice for an archival glue that can be used to keep bills closed when preparing bird skins, or perhaps can suggest a good method for this? We always tie them shut with string through the nostrils, but for some birds that have long bills or oddly shaped ones it is hard to keep it closed. Some colleagues have used regular super glue, but I am not so keen on this idea

Thanks,
Nina

Nina Black
Curatorial Assistant
Ornithology & Mammalogy
Museum of Comparative Zoology


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