BRN 9-2 (uncompressed) - Flipbook - Page 25
New Exhibits at the
Hillsboro Natural
History Museum
April One News Release
The Avian Biology Wing and the
Geologic History Wing of the
Hillsboro Natural History Museum
announce new world class additions
to their renowned collections.
In December we received the
specimen shown to the right from a
turquoise miner in the Sacramento
Mountains who was interested in an
end of the year tax beneÞt. Working
with the MusŽe de GŽnŽtique
Historique (Institute of Historical
Genetics) in Paris, France, and the
Mauritius Biological Center, we have
been able to authenticate the
specimen. We invite you to discover
the enigmatic Dodo, once native to
the island of Mauritius, extinct since
the late 17th century. This specimen,
captured by the renowned naturalist
Alfred Russel Wallace, will be a rare
highlight of our permanent collection.
It is currently part of our ÒExtinct
Animals TourÓ at the Portland OMSI
Museum. It will return to Hillsboro at
the end of the tour in August of this
year. In the exhibit it is shown
standing on a bed of lush, green
artiÞcial grass. This taxidermy display
captures the bird's distinctive
plumage and stout, curved bill. It
serves as a poignant reminder of
human impact on biodiversity and the
delicate balance of ecosystems.
In August it will be integrated into the
rest of the collection in the Avian
Biology Wing of our museum. Many
of you will not want to wait until
August to visit the museum. The
permanent collection of the Avian
Biology Wing already includes an
incredible number of high quality
specimens. During a visit you can
step into the enchanting world of
ornithology with our latest exhibit,
"Feathers and FragmentsÓ, a small
portion of which is shown to the right.
Here, we unveil a breathtaking array
of bird eggs and feathers, each
specimen telling a story of adaptation, survival, and beauty. This
historic collection includes eggs from
myriad species - from the speckled
wonders of the European Robin to the
robust, blue-green eggs of the
American Robin, stretching from the
temperate forests of North America to
the vibrant tropics of South America.
Egg collecting, or oology, was once a
revered scientiÞc practice aimed at
understanding bird reproduction and
taxonomy. However, this practice has
become highly controversial due to its
impact on bird populations. Today,
we recognize the ethical implications
and the need for conservation, and
emphasize that this collection was
assembled during an era when the
effect of such practices was not fully
understood. These artifacts provide
invaluable insights into species that
have since faced challenges or
changes in their habitats.
insulation, and camoußage as
feathers have evolved on multiple
continents.
Our display cases house feathers from
birds like the iridescent plumes of the
Indian Peafowl and the soft down of
the Arctic Tern, showcasing the
evolutionary artistry in bird plumage.
These feathers not only represent
aesthetic diversity but also display
functional adaptations for ßight,
The July 2025 issue of this Journal
addressed reintroduction and deextinction efforts in the world
generally and within the Black Range
speciÞcally. DNA samples from the
oological collection and from the new
Dodo will help advance those efforts.
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This exhibit not only educates but also
invites reßection on our historical
relationship with nature, encouraging
a dialogue on conservation and the
ethical stewardship of our planet's
biodiversity. Don't miss this rare
opportunity to connect with the avian
world through the lens of history and
science.
