taking flight at the museum

I really love the fact that you can travel and visit natural history museums all over the world and no two museums will display there treasures in exactly the same manner. As a child growing up in Ottawa and spending every so many sundays exploring the museum of nature, I never thought any other museum on earth would hold as much fascination for me. Then there was the museum in London, England and Vienna, Austria that I absolutely adored. I must say there was something quite special and unique about the Harvard Museum of Natural History. They have an amazing assortment of specimens in a fairly small display area and they are arranged in very beautiful ways. 

The bird displays were a good example of this. They appeared very scientific and yet artful. Vintage and yet holding great modern appeal, since there is a resurgence of collections and their displaying happening. Forgive me if you wanted to see detailed pictures of birds. What I really wanted to photograph was the overall appearance and design. 

How do you like the village weaver and the rufous rockjumper birds:)

Comments

[Sarah]

Oh my goodness. Thank you for these pictures. They are speaking to me in a way I cannot even articulate. Just thinking about the person who made those displays, deciding to place this sparrow facing left and that one facing right...amazing.

[Geninne D. Zlatkis]

Breathtaking! Organizing collections is definitely an art form.
Oh! I think I'm in love with the Quetzal in the seventh photo and the abyssinian roller in the second to last one. I will always treasure these photos Margie, thank you so much for sharing them :)

[rebekalice]

those are absolutely some of the most gorgeous birds i've ever sort of seen. i love the wall with the tails and wings all spanned out so you can see their different shapes. definitely a must see next time!

[Patricia Longoria]

I love the turquoise blue feathers of the bird next to the parakeet! I know exactly what you mean about this museum's appeal. It's like it's stuck in the Victorian era, but in a good way.

[melissa]

oh my goodness. that's amazing!

i remember there were beautiful bird displays at the oslo natural history museum... i could have looked at them all day!

[Lovely World]

I just love wandering in natural history museums. It looks like you had a wonderful trip. Did you happen to read Anne Patchett's book "Run"? One of the main characters works in the fish section of this Harvard institution. A good read.

[k]

how did you ever manage to leave? they wouldn't have been able to pry me out of there - i'd want to spend time with each bird! (not to mention all the other treasures you've shown!)

[joanie]

These are just incredible. I hope you had lots of time to spend there admiring each and every one! I just love the displays so much. The London Natural History museum is wonderful, but the displays there are not as alive as these are; and no matter what time of day you visit there are crowds to weave through just to get to the displays. Thanks so much for showing us more. Jx

[caireen]

man that little wonky owl melts your heart, truth be told, I'd rather see them in flesh and feather -but it was a different time of study wasn't it? x

[Dragonfly]

Oh, these are wonderful too. My Dad used to collect stuffed birds and his house was full of them. When I left home, he gave me a rather unconventional house-warming gift of a stuffed Little Owl. It sits proudly on my piano under its dome. I now have several other in my possession, but sadly, my Dad decided to sell his collection when he moved house earlier this year.

[Sonia]

I couldn't say which display I love best ... they're all so beautiful & all these birds are so amazing !
thank you for sharing all these photos, it's such an opportunity to visit this museum through your eyes, and thanks to you.
oxoxo

[ale]

hola margaret!the beauty of life and nature ...this museum is fantstic!!how beautifull you want to share all this !!!!
...l just came from my hollidays in patagonia and l pick some beautifull stones for you and another little things..and l would love to send to you !!...can you send me your adress???
my e mail is this
[email protected]
besos margaret! lots of kisses!!

[Jessica Hanscom]

Love it! I want to share one of my favorite places with you.
http://www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org/

[Vibeke]

Absolutely beautiful, yet it makes me soooo sad to know that each bird had to die to be part of this. Yes, I know some are found (I have some stuffed ones myself that had met their demise against my windows), but many have also been killed.

[Luisa]

Oh yeah the birds was one of my favorites and the rocks and gems.

[Kelly]

I think it is sad to see all those dead birds. I love nature but I prefer it to be alive....