A few years ago I tried to rescue a struck Kingfisher from the 520
Bridge. It died before I got it home. I was given the following
instructions for preserving it pending donation to an authorized
institution. Essentially, you want to keep the bird in a bag that's
inside a block of ice:

1. Bag the bird in a Zip-loc bag with as little air as possible in the bag.

2. Place the first bag in a second bag and fill that one with water.

3. Place the double-bagged bird and water in your freezer.

The reason for surrounding the bagged bird by (frozen) water is that
self-defrosting freezers use a melting/refreezing cycle that will
deteriorate the carcass. Keeping it in a block of ice insultates it
from that cycle.

Depending where you donate the carcass, it may be awhile before the
facility can arrange/afford to take it to a taxidermist. So it's
worth it to protect it as above.

Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/photography
mailto: tweeters at dartfrogmedia dot com

At 10:53 PM 7/20/2011, Doug Schurman wrote:
>Tonight when I got home I found a dead Band-tailed Pigeon in my yard near
>one of my feeders. I examined it and can see no external trauma. It is
>strange. I have found 5 of 6 piles of band-tailed pigeon feathers this year
>which I presume is a result of a Cooper's kill.
>
>But I didn't see a scratch on this bird. I swear those pigeon must be
>spreading the word because we have had over 20 at one time the last few
>days.
>
>I will contact the Burke and see what they want me to do. Right now the body
>is double bagged and in the freezer.
>
>Doug Schurman
>Seattle - Olympic Hills
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
>[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Christine
>Southwick
>Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 9:58 AM
>To: Mike Wagenbach
>Cc: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Re: [Tweeters] flicker carcass
>
>Label date location, probable cause of death, Double bag, put in freezer.
>
>Burke Museum always wants birds. If they don't need for collection, they
>need for classes teaching skin preservation.
>Technically, unless you have a permit to transport, then you should find
>someone, or organization that is permitted to transport and give the carcass
>to them.
>In reality, if you call the Burke first (206) 543-1668) there should be a
>problem.
>
>See Burke Museum FAQ below:
>
>What should I do when I find a dead bird?
>A: To be valuable as scientific specimens, salvaged birds must have date and
>locality information. Include the time of day that the bird died (only if
>known accurately) and nature of death (e.g., window kill), along with any
>other associated observations, and your name and contact information in case
>we have questions when we prepare it. Never guess about data. Every specimen
>has the potential to be used in research, and wrong information is much
>worse than no information.
>
>You can attach information to a bird by tying a tag to its leg, or by
>including a note written in permanent pen or pencil. Place the bird in a
>sealed plastic bag (such as Ziploc), freeze it, and transport it to the
>Burke Museum at your earliest convenience. If needed, call the Ornithology
>Office (206) 543-1668 for further instructions. The Washington
>Ornithological Society also collects salvaged birds for the Burke at its
>monthly meetings at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
>
>Isn't it illegal for me to salvage dead birds?
>A: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act gives federal protection to all but a
>handful of birds (including some game birds and invasive, introduced species
>such as the European Starling Sturnus vulgaris, House Sparrow Passer
>domesticus, and Rock Dove Columba livia (Pigeon). So, yes, technically, it
>is illegal to possess or transport most birds (or bird parts) without a
>permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
>
>In practice, however, the local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office and
>the State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife allow the public to possess birds for
>the time needed to deliver them to an approved educational institution such
>as the Burke Museum. Thus, if you call one of these offices having found a
>dead bird, they will likely refer you to our Ornithology Division. You
>should not consider keeping the material for your own use.
>
>
>Christine Southwick
>N Seattle/Shoreline
>clsouthwick at pugetsoundbirds.org
>
>
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