Why Over 600,000 Bird Specimens Are Preserved At The Smithsonian

Why Over 600,000 Bird Specimens Are Preserved At The Smithsonian | Colossal Collections

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Күн бұрын

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has one of the biggest bird collections in the world, housing over 600,000 specimens, from ducks to eagles to peacocks. The collection was created over 200 years ago and is still being added to today. But why does the museum still need more and more specimens? Research and wildlife management, notably reducing the amount of bird strikes.
We went to the Smithsonian to see how just one specimen gets added to the skins collection, one of the most detailed processes in the department that creates a record of historic birds to be used for generations to come.
0:00 - Intro
0:54 - Acquisition
1:36 - Cleaning and Preparation
5:38 - Research and Collections
6:06 - Bird Strike Research
7:51 - Black Vulture Wing Research
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Why Over 600,000 Bird Specimens Are Preserved At The Smithsonian | Colossal Collections

Пікірлер: 994

@teddybellbri Жыл бұрын

Am I the only one who thinks this isn’t that strange? They’re doing a multitude of things to save these bird species and educate the general public. I may be a little biased because I study wildlife conservation…but still

@spacewalker7520 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, you are the only one. ;) How can you find it completely normal to see multiple corpses stored side by side like pencils? Are you a serial killer? lol

@TravisRamesar Жыл бұрын

Yes,this is weird/strange but,it makes sense so you are correct.

@teddybellbri Жыл бұрын

@@spacewalker7520 By that logic, graveyards are psychopathic too. 😬 Keeping these species preserved can be beneficial for the future of their species by studying the way they died, their DNA, size, etc.

@shamrockewe822 Жыл бұрын

@@teddybellbri I don't think it's weird but I wouldn't compare it to a graveyard, graveyards aren't for preserving, studying or storing biological data so it's not a relevant reference.

@JW-dc8hk Жыл бұрын

I don’t think it’s strange at all, we’re trying to attempt to save our ecological history so all good here 👌👍💯

@OKjoey86 Жыл бұрын

I wonder how many extinct species are represented at the museum? That would be a pretty fascinating exhibit.

@yessumyecrad Жыл бұрын

They likely have a lot of birds that, sadly will never be observed alive again. I spotted Carolina Parakeets at 9:01. It's pretty amazing to see a specimen of a bird that's been extinct since way before we existed.

@Coolkid99880 Жыл бұрын

@0 O o 0 O o 0 O o 0 O o 0 due literally between 200-2000 different species go extinct every year from climate change, human intervention, or even evolution in some cases. So you might wanna rethink your reply

@buckethead133 Жыл бұрын

@@Coolkid99880 name 10?

@doublemosasaur5091 Жыл бұрын

such a dumb question lol, there are thousands of mesozoic and cenozoic animal museums, where fossils of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, extinct mammals are shown. Idk if youve ever been to a museum.

@Coolkid99880 Жыл бұрын

@@buckethead133 1.baiji dolphin 2.Splendid poison frog 3.northern white rhinoceros 4.Pyrenean ibex 5.western black rhinoceros 6.Bachman’s Warbler 7.Little Mariana Fruit Bat 8.Kaua'i akialoa 9.San Marcos Gambusia 10.Southern Acornshell Mussel You were saying?

@Rai_S82 Жыл бұрын

There is so much going on behind the scenes that most of us wouldn't even think of. This is fascinating!

@rizdalegend Жыл бұрын

Like this married couple has never had sex?

@poonplugdoonbug Жыл бұрын

Like covid 19 being manufactured?

@yourfriend4970 Жыл бұрын

Like Meghan Markle is a robot?

@kenetickups6146 Жыл бұрын

@@poonplugdoonbug Pics or it didn't happen

@TheImmilky Жыл бұрын

@@poonplugdoonbug stfu I'm currently having it and suffering and you people still preach this tinfoil hat shit? Maybe if you get infected you would get some humility! It's as real as any other sickness and virus!

@SICresinwrks Жыл бұрын

This is wild, never thought about how much stuff they actually had, especially animals! Its cool to see how and why they keep them

@D-S-G. Жыл бұрын

"Yo what do you do for a living" "I guard hundreds of thousands of bird corpses" "damn bro"

@Smokie1523 Жыл бұрын

Ive seen people butcher birds, but never unbutcher... neat! There are SO many different incredibly fascinating things at the Smithsonian, you should do a series on all of it!.. or as much as you can..

@tiromandal6399 Жыл бұрын

Damn I never knew they had to remove everything but the skin! Makes total sense but can't imagine how excruciatingly difficult it would be to do it without any damage!

@forestfox66 Жыл бұрын

Twenty years ago, I did taxidermy on a songbird as part of my zoology degree at university. It was hideous and hilarious, and it was the funniest lab session ever. It really is a learnt talent! I do not work in taxidermy now. I work in natural history film.

@Havel_the_Rock420 Жыл бұрын

This is kinda creepy.

@apurvnagare Жыл бұрын

But fried chicken isn't

@sonicdark1375 Жыл бұрын

@@apurvnagare damn right it's not

@AirQuotes Жыл бұрын

Creepy but necessary

@r0land4323501 Жыл бұрын

Only for those who do not see this as educational

@ActuallyHoudini Жыл бұрын

not really

@DannyPellham Жыл бұрын

The Smithsonian is definitely one of the coolest organizations around.

@rinber13 10 ай бұрын

This reminded me of The Feather Thief book. It's about a guy who robbed a natural history museum for exotic bird feathers. It's one of the weirdest crime cases ever, just so bizarre on all levels.

@OliviaLoke Жыл бұрын

who else is watching this late night…

@cobrazoid Жыл бұрын

Will you guys show your preserved human collection next?

@_GMP_ Жыл бұрын

That will be done by robots

@giannagerster4431 Жыл бұрын

Plastination!

@tamilklmn Жыл бұрын

@@_GMP_ sigma

@water5210 Жыл бұрын

The human collection is in the basement

@nishikantangangom8961 Жыл бұрын

It will be nice to see that. Since they only take death by accident. I mean I want to be in the museum also after I die.

@nightmare_symphony Жыл бұрын

This feels uncomfortable to watch but I made it through the end knowing that it's for good research purpose. It's hard to believe that there is even a bird preserved from the 1800s, but despite saying all this, it still feels strange.

@doublemosasaur5091 Жыл бұрын

Theyre doing it to humans too so theres no problem imo

@doublemosasaur5091 Жыл бұрын

As long as they dont kill it just so they can preserve it of course

@zahra_na98 5 ай бұрын

Do they take DNA sample!?

@bellarose1562 Ай бұрын

@@zahra_na98 they can and some do yes

@timfoilhat7327 4 ай бұрын

The perfect conversation starter: “Hey wanna see my bird collection?”

@abbofun9022 Жыл бұрын

Anyone else had a ‘Dead Parrot’ Monty Python moment when seeing the thumbnail?

@ActuallyHoudini Жыл бұрын

no it isnt

@missywink1504 Жыл бұрын

'Ello Polleeeee!

@anonUK Жыл бұрын

Pinin' for the fjords.

@thisguy5017 Жыл бұрын

They're not dead, they're priming!

@toradrow777 Жыл бұрын

At least they didn't mention the war.

@darkwolf453 Жыл бұрын

I did this once with a bird at a biological institute for fun. It took me 7 hours to prepare a bird the size of a sparrow all by hand, with a manual from the 80s😅 but it was so much fun.

@ES11777 9 ай бұрын

Fun???!

@darkwolf453 9 ай бұрын

@@ES11777 Yeah, it was already dead, because it flew against a window. I prepared it for educational purposes, to show new students how to handle captured birds, before they would work with alive ones

@adnanbashir1756 4 ай бұрын

@@darkwolf453alive ones? What

@darkwolf453 4 ай бұрын

@@adnanbashir1756 They would catch them for sientific purposes, put rings on their legs and monitor their breeding behaviour. And before that, the students needed to learn how to handle them propperly

@adnanbashir1756 4 ай бұрын

@@darkwolf453 oh ok.. I read it wrong earlier. Thought yall catching live ones to taxidermy lol sorry

@randalllaue4042 Жыл бұрын

In Chicago, they keep all the bird collisions that crash into buildings, also have catchers during peak seasons that they happen. Saving many from second collisions. 👍❤️

@cesarefasolato867 4 ай бұрын

I'm sorry I lost it when he pulled out the bullet-shaped eagle 😭😭

@DM-zs8go Жыл бұрын

This is very freaky but I appreciate that they are doing it.

@hydroaegis6658 Жыл бұрын

A bird seeing this would be terrified. This must be what he'll looks like for them.

@SirBaited Жыл бұрын

Death is normal in the animal kingdom

@faikcanozalp5409 Жыл бұрын

We ,Humans, are really one of a kind in the universe. Even if we find a life trace on other planets, I guess none of them will be like us

@thatguy720 Жыл бұрын

You’re correct, they really won’t be like us. It’s a big part of my belief that we were created differently from animals, that we truly are not animals.

@anishs5652 Жыл бұрын

We are one of most inhumane and brutal species.

@fioredeutchmark Жыл бұрын

@@anishs5652 🥴

@fioredeutchmark Жыл бұрын

Almost like we were made in the image of our creator or something?

@thatguy720 Жыл бұрын

@@anishs5652 How can humans be inhumane, if humans are by default, *Humane* !?!? 🤯

@jackiee91 Жыл бұрын

Damn, this would be so cool as an longer documentary!

@Crazymedicokumar Жыл бұрын

I can't imagine how the laboratory would smell 🤣

@africanelectron751 Жыл бұрын

Look at them sleeping so nicely... Soo cute

@tajinderkaur1785 Жыл бұрын

They are dead🥲😂

@user-xe3jb5mh4r 3 ай бұрын

Только они не вернутся к жизни 😥😭😭😭

@user-pr6vl3bg3y Жыл бұрын

Как жалко стольких птиц......

@user-wb4mb1kr9w Жыл бұрын

Соглашусь..

@user-bs2di8pt3j Жыл бұрын

Татьяна Ольга это точно у них мозгов нету

@capybarastrange4077 Жыл бұрын

Их же не убивают специально

@Jimin3871 Жыл бұрын

@@user-wb4mb1kr9w они умирают естественным путём

@user-wb4mb1kr9w Жыл бұрын

@@Jimin3871 кто сказал?

@Ed-ty1kr 17 күн бұрын

My gray tabby cat finds this video very intersting, and gives it a paw up.

@canadianbird1185 Жыл бұрын

Imagine, just opening a random drawer full of neatly stacked parrots.....

@Goozero1 Жыл бұрын

Nice that they're doing this. Idk how many birds are out there with goofy names I don't know about so shout out to these guys.

@mangothebirb3100 Жыл бұрын

This is quite creepy but it's definitely necessary

@Rosfield_SW Жыл бұрын

The people that call this strange, but does not realize what goes into preparing human bodies for burial... like cmon now... educate yourself. Your body gets drained, stitched or glued to help "preserve" the loom for viewing.

@Artec_3D Жыл бұрын

Science and education are two spheres that shape our future, and we are particularly proud to foster education and research with our 3D solutions.

@grumblewoof4721 Жыл бұрын

It's not a dead parrot, he's just resting.

@viriyananda Жыл бұрын

Just like us but not just collect and us or body as a museum

@user-cv5xh3hn5h Жыл бұрын

А я то думаю, куда подевались исчезающие виды??? А вон они где. В ящиках лежат. Как живые. Это прекрасно. Нужно всех поймать и туда сложить.

@Nenado_S Жыл бұрын

Конечно, и следить за их популяцией не надо , как же удобно

@GreenRain_ Жыл бұрын

Вы смотрели видео? Все экземпляры умерли случайно, в таком деле животных никто специально не убивает

@GreenRain_ Жыл бұрын

Есть конечно небольшие организации, которые незаконно этим занимаются и потом продают экземпляры, и врут покупателям что они умерли случайно

@user-cv5xh3hn5h Жыл бұрын

@@GreenRain_ да с чего вы это взяли? И вообще кто вы? Вы два какие-то символа. У вас даже имени нет и фамилии. Умудряетесь своё мнение опубликовать? Какое у вас научное звание или степень?

@user-cv5xh3hn5h Жыл бұрын

@@GreenRain_ есть крупные коллекции. Допустим Кусто. Это панцири моллюскоф. Но он никогда не утверждал что в момент попадания в коллекцию моллюски были мертвы. Просто, коллекция и коллекция. Очень много фотографий. Или Порт Аф. Коллекция трилобитофф из ранне триасового периода. Тоже понятно. Или коллекция средневековых монет. Живыми небыли. В отношении другого.....

@josephputra2987 Жыл бұрын

i feel so much optimistict energy from them in the video that knowing what they have done is gonna be usefull, yet they don't know what it is yet.

@einienj3281 Жыл бұрын

Morbid curiosity, very important and interesting, bit creepy.. a bird cemetery..

@DesertKingCrocodile. Жыл бұрын

I have a question, So I have been told by me friend that taxidermied owls fall apart after a long period of time (feathers falling etc etc) Is that really the case, or is it not? I'm asking cause i was considering to get myself a taxidermied owl :]

@mawile1234 8 ай бұрын

Taxidermy specimens fall apart when they are either wrongly prepared (as not removing all the fat as described in the video) or from insect damage. Moth and different types of beetles like to eat the skin and feathers. Exposure to sunlight can damage taxidermy as well and of course they shouldn’t be touched as this can wear the feathers as well. The bigger problem with a taxidermied owl is that as as I know more or less all owls are protected species all around the world. Getting a legal specimen from a sustainable source (like one that died in a car accident or didn’t made it at a wildlife rehabilitation center) as a private person will be a challenge.

@loadsoflaughs6090 Жыл бұрын

Bird be like-have a career in the future.... I am fuckin dead

@hacky_sackin Жыл бұрын

That’s so adorable that Christina and her husband get to work together XD

@chidanandabisoi63 Жыл бұрын

Amazing preservation

@terebere. Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome. I want to do that one day

@alipakdin7372 11 күн бұрын

What is the name of the bird with the nice green colour shown at 6:31 ?

@alancosta4760 Жыл бұрын

This is how our grand-grandchildren will know how birds were

@rodgomez4424 Жыл бұрын

Never knew how birds really were till I had me a Parrot... Those who know know

@viriyananda Жыл бұрын

Yeah they died and they just borrow they corpse in museum so fair

@jamesmedalla7043 Жыл бұрын

Man that is a ornithologist's dream...... Also mine too.

@Yourdreamguy286 Жыл бұрын

A whole collection of birds that flew Into building window's lmaoo

@water5210 Жыл бұрын

Imagine being a new recruit and seeing all these dead birds in drawers and cabinets

@gabrielassis4210 Жыл бұрын

Só me deu uma tristeza ao ver várias ararinhas azuis

@Batman-cx8ce Жыл бұрын

now imagine someone starts preserving humans like that😓

@milk_chemistry Жыл бұрын

im pretty sure we do i know those skeletons that you see in science class were real skeletons in france up until like the 1980s 1980s was when the last one was was removed and switched to one that is not real bone so as long as you have a perfect body you could have donated your body to become a science class skeleton ive also heard of museums that have cut up human bodys (like a slice) so you can see the insides and see what your intestines and stomach and liver look like and where they are located i thought about donating my body but i'm the worst candidate i've broken 2 bones and am in bad shape SO INSTEAD IM GONNA PRESERVE MY BODY LIKE LENIN

@ngmusic5665 Жыл бұрын

They do, cadaber labs exist.

@k_c_holmes930 Жыл бұрын

There are medical museums with huge amounts of human remains kept for research purposes. Granted, it's usually bones, and some mummies, not formaldehyde (for the whole body), but ya. We do. There are a lot of individual human body parts that have been preserved in formaldehyde, like fingers, limbs, organs, etc.

@AKSourGod 10 ай бұрын

I love how there is art in everything.

@DarkFaze6477 Жыл бұрын

Oh thank God, I always thought my girlfriend was weird for keeping drawers full of dead birds but now I see that it's normal. 😮‍💨

@estercolonna7380 Жыл бұрын

Non potevano lasciare volare in cielo queste povere creature . Ma per mettere in un cassetto,ma?!! 🙏 Spero che finisca presto tutto ciò.

@gotechakash Жыл бұрын

3:16 what 😳 but how even though it's dead

@isinss-5799 Жыл бұрын

Eye squirt? It's just whatever fluids remains in the eye, squirting when pressure is applied. I guess it doesn't evaporate because they are frozen.

@drandy.youtubechannel1436 Жыл бұрын

I really want to visit there 😊

@marcusromans9815 Жыл бұрын

I have one question do you have a specimen of the extinct kauai oo bird?

@binadutta9776 Жыл бұрын

great idea for future generations.

@user-be7ul1sy5c Жыл бұрын

Гады,что творят!!!

@joevillan892 3 ай бұрын

I dissected a Killed Bill Toucan and I'm trying to figure out how to reserve the beak and skull.

@american.psycho Жыл бұрын

0:30 eagle on extreme mode

@r_rahul_dash Жыл бұрын

Hatsoff to their Team❤️

@acdatpb Жыл бұрын

Imagine seeing them 100 years from now, quite interesting

@claudioconforti5608 Жыл бұрын

I wasn't prepared to watch a bunch of dead macaws in a drawer

@grapiebee 4 ай бұрын

I hope these specimens can last for a long, long time.

@Div0068 Жыл бұрын

Something altogether different. You are helping future generations. Thanks, great work 👍

@ittimjones Жыл бұрын

I had a coopers hawk just like that! He flew into a tree and crushed his skull was pretty cool to handle up close.

@ES11777 9 ай бұрын

Cool??!

@villelater2708 15 күн бұрын

I think Vishnu should have a statue of his birdform there to oversee the the spirits

@kenrowe5589 Жыл бұрын

The birds looked like they are so perfect that they were killed to preserve them so lifelike.

@Corgi_Donut 11 ай бұрын

I have no idea why I’m watching this..

@MahnoorHussain-eq1ov 24 күн бұрын

Us moment

@ABMNATN Жыл бұрын

I would love to see the dragons they have

@tjo7613 Жыл бұрын

have a good idea that a rare animal that is preserved and still in good condition can be brought back to life by scientists

@toradrow777 Жыл бұрын

I wonder how many times a day someone does the dead parrot skit from Monty Python?

@darkbionic1044 Жыл бұрын

Interesting to remember them and study them once they become into extinction

@gotterdammerung5527 Жыл бұрын

You know it's not just movies. There really are a few levels of the Smithsonian that no one else is allowed to go in except for the people that tend to the artifacts. If all the crazy world war two conspiracy theories are true then that means the United States almost certainly "required" some stuff from the Germans. Artifacts to which they have course took from their respective lands.

@Iam-Misu 21 күн бұрын

Эти люди учавствуют в развитии человечества! Пытаются понять что к чему в нашем мире, как устроена природа. Это потрясающе и это невероятно сложная работа. Все, кто фукает или порицает лишь рудименты того глупого человечества, что останутся позади, ушедшие в небытие.

@denibraja7899 10 ай бұрын

Mom : why you put dead birds on your room? Me : for science

@theHarry-lo5it Жыл бұрын

It not good for our nature please don't killed Bird 😔😔

@andreiromero6044 Жыл бұрын

True ,🤣🤣😁

@jayashreegurav3846 Жыл бұрын

They take birds which are dead

@LOOKtheresAbeaver 3 ай бұрын

It is good for nature so if the bird does go extinct we can revive it with the DNA from the specimens

@shamashelhashysh9159 Жыл бұрын

C: 'Ello, Miss? Owner (Palin): What do you mean "miss"? C: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint! O: We're closin' for lunch. C: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique. O: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it? C: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it! O: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting. C: Look, my lad, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now. O: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!

@scouttyra Жыл бұрын

@raji4191 Жыл бұрын

Wow pls cover programs like this. Amazing to watch

@jameshowlett6078 Жыл бұрын

They are preserving them hoping that one day alien technology will bring the birds back to life.

@pedrohelbert574 Жыл бұрын

Que tristeza é o ser humano 😔😔😔😭😭😭

@maximinomarcorio2956 Жыл бұрын

Pior que é mesmo 😢

@pedrohelbert574 Жыл бұрын

@@maximinomarcorio2956 infelizmente poderíamos ter vivido em um mundo melhor, mas fomos e somos incapazes , triste!

@darkwowpg Жыл бұрын

Vegans are giving this video a like.

@darwinpena1845 Жыл бұрын

Can I send my mother in law to be preserved for centuries so people of future will know the only bird that fly in a broom. 🤣

@chriswilliams3110 Жыл бұрын

😂😂

@nishishah9230 Жыл бұрын

These are basically realistic teddy bears.lol🙂

@Alpharius_Dominatus Жыл бұрын

This is the reason why i love science, but i couldn't face animal corpse, at least there must be other thing i can learn from science other than corpse Btw, they're doing great job, keep up the good work scientists

@robertsiddique2948 Жыл бұрын

Hats off to this amazing and futuristic mindset 👏 🙌 👌

@denisrock7240 Жыл бұрын

Rick : My last offer would be 19$

@haiminhhuynh3867 Жыл бұрын

Where can I visit this lab? Washington DC?

@jacquelineknauff4835 Жыл бұрын

DID YOU GET DNA SAMPLES

@user-ze3lk1ov5b Жыл бұрын

No need to these species are not extinct

@delta9571 Жыл бұрын

This is so fascinating, I watched all of it.

@ahokok9229 2 ай бұрын

They are kept at what temperature ?

@alexxhelilaj7547 Жыл бұрын

Woah!

@jdkgcp Жыл бұрын

The process isn't really that strange....but the people doing it sure are.

@SirBaited Жыл бұрын

Not really, seeing dead animal can really affect people mental health

@silviosilveira8338 Жыл бұрын

Não gosto de ver pássaros em gaiolas ,agora mortos em gavetas é horrendo a vida de cada ser vivo que tiramos e um roubo levando em conta que não damos vida a nenhum.