Bird Taxidermy Mounts:
 

 

NNBA  has a taxidermy collection of about 350 birds housed in various parks and nature centers in our area including Galena Creek Park Visitors Center and Rosewood Nature Study Area in Reno, River Fork Ranch in Minden, Walker River State Recreation Area Visitor Center in Yerington, & Carson Valley Museum in Gardnerville.  We bring these mounts when we’re asked to participate in various community events to educate the public about our birds.  We also bring them to local schools when we classroom lectures.

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Alan Gubanich, our education committee chair,  has a state and federal Salvage and Educational Use Permit  to collect birds that have died from various accidents or natural causes. We must document where each bird was found along with other pertinent data. Unfortunately, many birds die from hitting windows or cars, eating a poisoned mouse, or a run in with a neighborhood cat.   If you find a dead bird in your yard that is in good shape, put on protective gloves, and place it in a plastic bag and then in your freezer. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible and include a note stating your name, location, and date found.  Contact us and we will pick it up. We then work with a local taxidermist to have the birds preserved so that you can see them up close.  Some birds are mounted in a special way so you can also touch and feel them.  

 

Many of the specimens have been paid for by grant monies from the National Audubon Society’s Whittell Fund Committee. Others were supported by monies from the NNBA Education Committee or from our members. The Eagles and Agriculture Steering Committee in Carson Valley, the Spanish Springs Lions Club, and Great Basin Institute have also made generous donations.