USNM Curators Annual Reports - Department of Birds: Monthly Reports 1887 - 1888

What was the Department of Birds at the Smithsonian’s U.S. National Museum adding to its collection between 1887 and 1888? In May alone, it was 162 different items and you can learn what each and every one of them were. While building its collection, the department was also loaning specimens to institutions throughout the world, and you can check out where these birds traveled (FYI: they didn’t fly there). All of this while a dedicated team of taxidermists were hard at work, creating samples, that are still on view to the public today at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. With International Migratory Bird Day right around the corner, you won’t want to miss out on these detailed monthly departmental reports, so start transcribing today!