NKBC Specimen Collection Information 

Our NKBC Bird Study Skin Specimens are used in educational programs, exhibits, and teaching classes as authorized by our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Federal Permit  for special purpose possession/salvage of dead migratory birds, nests & eggs. 

If you find a fresh dead bird, please contact us at NKBirdClub@gmail.com 

Do not handle the dead bird with your bare hands. Use gloves and place the bird into a ziploc bag. rite down on a note the date and location found to put inside the bag with the bird and get as much air out of the bag before zipping it up. Place the bag in a freezer. The carcass must be in good condition to be prepared for a good study specimen.   If the bird is not needed for our specimen collection, the Cincinnati Museum may be able to use it in  their collection.  We visit the Cincinnati Museum Zoology Center often to  drop off specimens and pickup our specimens.

We all would much rather see live birds instead of dead birds, but window strikes and other incidents happen, and the study skin specimens are very useful for education and teaching to provide a closeup view and study of  the bird species.  Our goal is to create enthusiasm and to encourage a continued interest in  birds and ornithology by allowing children, students, adults, and families to personally handle and examine specimens. 

Check out this Youtube video about the specimen collection from NKBC member Leonard Beck:

NKBC Specimen Collection Information

Did you know that it is illegal to possess any feathers, parts, nests, or eggs of any native North American birds without a valid U.S. Fish and Wildlife Federal Permit?  Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is illegal for anyone to take,  possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird  except under the terms of a Valid USFW Federal Permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations. This Federal Law is to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species.

The Northern Kentucky Bird Club thanks the below organizations for their support with our Specimens Teaching Collection:

• Cincinnati Museum Center Zoology Department  https://www.cincymuseum.org/zoology/

• RAPTOR, Inc. http://raptorinc.org/

• WINK, Inc.   (Wild Birds In Northern Kentucky, Inc.)  Ginger Rood, Union Ky

• Boone County Conservation District - http://bccdky.org

• Kentucky Ornithological Society - https://birdky.org