WFVZ Bird Collections

Eggs: The WFVZ houses approximately 225,000 sets of eggs (equal to more than 1,000,000 individual eggs), representing at least 4,000 bird species from around the world, and collected from more than 400 individual and institutional collections. The egg collection of the WFVZ is the largest in the world. The Western Foundation’s collections have contributed to multiple scientific fields (e.g., conservation, ecology, taxonomy, and toxicology). For example, the WFVZ provided photocopies of egg records for more than 500 species, and egg measurements for more than 400 species, covered by the Birds of North America series. This information and digital pictures of these eggs and nests are now available at www.birds.cornell.edu/birdsofna. The Foundation’s egg sets have also figured prominently in studies of eggshell thinning due to contaminants (e.g., DDT and heavy metals). Since 2000 alone, the WFVZ has contributed data to more than 200 publications. Thus, the value of the WFVZ’s collections for science, and for the conservation of bird species, continues to be evidenced. Staff of the WFVZ provide data on eggs, including measurements and digital images, to researchers. Please contact René Corado, Collections Manager, for more information, and see our list of services available to researchers. Nests: The Foundation has more than 18,000 specimens from around the world, representing the largest collection of nests in North America and the world. WFVZ pictures of the nests of North American breeding bird species are available at www.birds.cornell.edu/birdsofna, or researchers can contact us for particular digital images. Skins: The WFVZ houses more than 56,000 study skin specimens representing over 100 countries, with the largest numbers of specimens from the United States (>12,900), Mexico (>12,600), Malaysia (>4,400), Costa Rica (>4,000), and Ecuador (>3,800). The skin collection is at least the 16th largest among North American collections. The primary sources for specimens currently are wildlife rehabilitation organizations; wildlife research agencies; birds killed by cats, window strikes, and car impacts; and the Foundation’s own field research projects. Materials are consistently acquired by the Western Foundation and used by researchers, educators, scientific artists, and other museums. In addition, materials are used in educational tours and presentations for the general public, both at the Foundation and at outside events. Skin loans are made to qualified researchers.鸟类卵标本：韦斯特脊椎动物标本基金会（Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology，以下简称WFVZ）馆藏约22.5万组鸟类卵标本（总计超100万枚单枚鸟卵），涵盖全球至少4000种鸟类，标本来源于全球400余家个人及机构收藏。该馆的鸟类卵馆藏规模为全球之首。 韦斯特脊椎动物标本基金会的馆藏已为多个科研领域提供支撑，例如保护生物学、生态学、分类学与毒理学。例如，WFVZ曾为《北美鸟类》系列丛书提供超过500个物种的卵标本记录复印件，以及超400个物种的卵形态测量数据。目前，这些相关信息以及鸟卵与鸟巢的数字化影像均可通过网址www.birds.cornell.edu/birdsofna查询获取。 该馆的鸟类卵组标本还在污染物（如滴滴涕（DDT）与重金属）导致的卵壳变薄相关研究中发挥了关键作用。仅自2000年以来，WFVZ就已为超200份学术出版物提供数据支持。由此可见，WFVZ馆藏对于科研事业与鸟类物种保护的价值仍在持续凸显。 WFVZ工作人员可为研究人员提供鸟类卵相关数据，包括形态测量值与数字化影像。如需了解更多信息，请联系标本馆馆长（Collections Manager）勒内·科拉多（René Corado），亦可查阅本馆面向研究人员的服务清单。 鸟巢标本：本馆馆藏全球范围内的鸟巢标本超1.8万件，是北美乃至全球规模最大的鸟巢馆藏。《北美鸟类》系列丛书配套的北美繁殖鸟类鸟巢影像可通过网址www.birds.cornell.edu/birdsofna查询，研究人员若需特定物种的鸟巢数字化影像，可与本馆联系获取。 剥制标本：WFVZ馆藏超5.6万件鸟类研究剥制标本，覆盖全球100余个国家，其中馆藏量最多的来源国依次为美国（超12900件）、墨西哥（超12600件）、马来西亚（超4400件）、哥斯达黎加（超4000件）与厄瓜多尔（超3800件）。该剥制标本馆藏规模至少位列北美地区馆藏的第16位。 目前，该馆剥制标本的主要来源包括野生动物救助机构、野生动物研究机构、因猫捕、撞窗与车祸致死的鸟类，以及本馆自主开展的野外研究项目所得标本。韦斯特脊椎动物标本基金会持续征集相关标本材料，这些材料可供研究人员、教育工作者、科学艺术家以及其他博物馆使用。此外，这些标本材料还可用于本馆及外部活动中面向公众的科普展览与宣讲活动。本馆可为符合资质的研究人员提供剥制标本借阅服务。