2. The Mission of theThe Mission of the
LSU Museum of Natural ScienceLSU Museum of Natural Science
Acquisition,Acquisition,
Preservation, andPreservation, and
StudyStudy
of research collections to generate knowledge ofof research collections to generate knowledge of::
Regional and global biodiversity,Regional and global biodiversity,
Geological history, andGeological history, and
Human history and prehistoryHuman history and prehistory
for the benefit of the people of the state, the nation, andfor the benefit of the people of the state, the nation, and
the world.the world.
3. Divisions of the LSU MNSDivisions of the LSU MNS
7 main fields of RESEARCH7 main fields of RESEARCH
Ornithology (Birds)Ornithology (Birds)
GeneticsGenetics
Ichthyology (Fishes)Ichthyology (Fishes)
MammalogyMammalogy
Herpetology (Reptiles and Amphibians)Herpetology (Reptiles and Amphibians)
Vertebrate PaleontologyVertebrate Paleontology
Anthropology (Archaeology and Ethnography)Anthropology (Archaeology and Ethnography)
EDUCATIONEDUCATION
4. Forming the next generation of
curators
OrnithologyOrnithology
Dr. Fred Sheldon (Director and Curator)
Dr. Van Remsen (Ornithology Curator)
5. Genetic ResourcesGenetic Resources
Dr. Fred Sheldon (Director and Curator)
Dr. Robb Brumfield (Genetic Resources Curator)
Building collections and preserving them...
10. Learning about previous societies.
AnthropologyAnthropology
Dr. Becky Saunders
Satellite imagery shows location
of mounds and embankments
King George Island Mounds, Livingston
Parish, 4500 years ago
11.
12. Public Outreach and K-12 EducationPublic Outreach and K-12 Education
Dr. Sophie Warny
Field trips
- Dioramas of interest for bird-related topics
- Practical details for visits
Children’s activity book: to do at MNS or school
- English
- French
15. 1
Bottomland Forest - = a forest with large
mature trees
- Last BL forest in LA
was in Madison Parish
(1943)
- Linked to extinction
of Ivory-billed
woodpecker
(specimen on display
is from 1899)
- The white-tailed
deer was able to
adapt and survive
16. - A series of
questions on:
- Habitat
- Loss of habitat
- Extinction
18. 2
Coastal Island - Louisiana’s barrier islands
- Birds help stabilize the
islands by depositing
nutrients that help establish
vegetation
- Eggs are camouflaged and
deposited on the ground
- Human visits during nesting
can be disastrous.
- Gulls: pick food from
surface, skimmers: fly above
water to skim &catch fish,
terns: fly, dive & retrieve.
20. 3 Heronry in LA Human effects on bird
population: Avery Island
and the Snowy Egrets
- Hat makers killed them by
thousands as the feathers
were used to decorate hats.
- by 1900’s, very few left.
- Conservationist Edward
Mcllhenny set aside swamp
land as a refuge: From 7 to
over 100,000 birds.
- Herons and egrets do not
have webbed feet, they eat
fish/frogs in shallow water.
22. The “Hall of Birds”
was designed to
have one of every
species recorded in
LA as of about 1970
(thus the Snowy
Owl and a few
other rarities) and
to help with
identifications.
4 Hall of Birds
23. - Arranged taxonomically
(relationship between birds)
- Use it to look at differences
in the beaks and feet.
- Mainly:
Gulls and terns
Dove and pigeons
Owls
Woodpeckers
Passerines
Herons and egrets
Pelicans
Shorebirds
Prairie birds
Raptors
24. Use these pages to introduce
main bird characteristics. Feel
free to reproduce these pages.
26. MNS Activity BookletMNS Activity Booklet
Activities for
Self-guided tours
The MNS book is available:
- in French thanks to:
… Anne-Sophie & Stanislas Dubois
- in Spanish thanks to:
… Ana Morales
