As a museum you may be able to obtain a salvage permit from the USFWS.  This
permit allows you to collect birds that are found dead (such as window
kills), which can then be incorporated into collections and displays.  If
you live in a city, window killed birds are, unfortunately, extremely easy
to find.  (One study by FLAP showed that close to 1,500 birds were killed
annually on one building alone)  From a taxidermy point of view, this is
great because window killed birds don't have bloody holes in them to clean
up.  It may be difficult to find a particular species but if you need
something you can talk to your state department of natural resources or
USFWS office.

If all you want are a few new display mounts you should still contact the
above offices.  The new mounts should be covered under the same arrangements
as your current ones, it's just a matter of legally obtaining and processing
the specimens you need.

If you have a scientific collection though, get a salvage permit.  The
animals that are not put on display will be incorporated into the scientific
collections.  These collections may have an example of all the local species
already but collecting examples of those species over time creates a
collection of data  that is very valuable and cannot be obtained any other
way.

As far as taxidermy becoming more an more thorny issue...people come to
natural history museums to see real examples of biodiversity and learn about
it.  Zoos are the only other institutions that come close to filling that
role but most zoos cannot impart information about habitat, biology,
ecological interactions, human impact, etc....even about the animals
themselves, as well as a museum can.  And, as you've noted, having the real,
mounted, specimen there is irreplaceable.  People can see reproductions
anywhere.  It is important to think about how and where specimens are
obtained so that we don't negatively impact populations.  It is also
important to use and display the specimen with respect.  But, without the
mounted specimen, natural history museums are missing a vital element.

Yours,
Steve

Steven M. Sullivan
Collections Manager
Chicago Academy of Sciences
2430 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago IL 60614
773-755-5100x2042

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