University of California, Berkeley (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California)

The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, will improve the stewardship of its collections by rehousing its non-passerine bird skins. The museum will replace early 1900s-era cases that do not adequately protect the skins from potential pest damage. The project team will purchase and install 74 new cases and 400 aluminum trays to provide better pest control, as well as improved weight loading and spacing for the specimens. As part of the project, the museum will relabel tags, trays, and cases based on a recently updated organization and taxonomy. By focusing on these larger specimens (e.g., penguins, loons, gulls, alcids, and hawks), the museum will be able to add space for recently received acquisitions of large-bodied birds. The project will improve the accessibility and preservation of these specimens for research and education related to biodiversity conservation.