Martin H. Moynihan - Adult Franklin's Gulls, Delta-Portage la Prairie, Southern Manitoba, Canada, 1954-1955

Martin H. Moynihan's special interest in ornithology is apparent from the large variety of Transcription Center projects focusing on different species—and this project, focusing on Franklin's gulls demonstrates both his expertise and is boundless enthusiasm. Typewritten indexes contrast with his manuscript field notes, handwritten in a mix of pen and pencil (featuring beautiful sketches), and the notes are peppered with observations on mating rituals, the birds' morphology, typical poses and lifestyle habits, as well as the spectrum of gull calls, notated in a fascinating shorthand. Catch the vision from Moynihan and join your fellow volunpeers in following the call of Franklin's gulls! To learn more about the breadth and diversity of Moynihan's studies of biodiversity in Central and South America, explore the collection of his personal papers at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.