Mike Donahue wrote -

<<<<
(snip)
> Many, many valuable specimens are brought in to the Burke as roadkills or
> window kills. Do not assume that a common bird is well represented in
> museum collections! Many older specimens have very poor data, and are
> almost useless. Museums these days are collecting tissue samples,
> recording gonad measurements, and such useful ageing information as bursa
> size and extent of skull ossification.
>>>>>

Just the person to ask: how many years would it take for a robin-sized bird to
dry out in a refrigerator freezer wrapped in newspaper and kept in plastic bags.
I have several such cadavers in my freezer which may be past the point of no
return.

- Jack


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Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca