Kingfishers: A Virtual Collections Experience

Introduction

This section of the Evolution: Earth@Home website focuses on the work of a team of researchers based at the the University of New Mexico Museum of Southwestern Biology in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. These scientists are studying Australo-Pacific kingfishers (genus Todiramphus), colorful birds with large beaks that are found in Southeast Asia to Australia, New Zealand, and on other islands in the Pacific Ocean. The scientists are studying these birds to learn about how new bird species emerge on islands, how climate change is impacting the birds, and how invasive species affect the birds.

Much of the work of these scientists is done in museums. Many people may think of natural history museums as places to visit to see wildlife dioramas and exhibits of fossils, rocks and minerals, and other types of artifacts. However, exhibits are only part of what museums do for science and the public. Many natural history museums, both large and small, are important centers of scientific research. They house large collections of specimens, like rocks, fossils, minerals, animals, plants, and objects crafted by humans. Scientists have often assembled these collections over generations, and museums preserve them so that present and future scientists can study them to answer many types of research questions. Museums may also have laboratories for scientists to work in. Often, their discoveries are shared with the public through the press and through museum-based exhibits and educational programs.

Scientists at museums do important work locally, nationally, and globally. Some of the research that these scientists have done includes working with local zoos and other organizations in species conservation and working on disease identification. It is not only scientists who work in and enrich museums. Many other people, including museum volunteers, are very important in making museums successful and helping them fulfill their missions of research and public education.