The Australasian swamphen is a visually striking and socially complex bird found across Oceania. It can be found in eastern Indonesia (specifically the Moluccas, Aru, and Kai Islands), Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia. As a member of the rail family (Rallidae), it belongs to the diverse order Gruiformes, which also includes cranes and other rail species. Like other rails, it possesses relatively short wings and a strong, elongated bill, both adaptations suited to its semi-aquatic wetland habitat. This swamphen is easily identified by its deep blue-purple plumage, prominent red frontal shield, and sturdy red legs. It primarily inhabits swamps, marshes, and other wet lowland areas, though its range has expanded to include pastures, roadsides, and farmland due to significant landscape modifications over the past 150 years. Unlike many wetland birds, it is highly adaptable and thrives in both natural and human-altered environments. Its diet is similarly flexible, consisting mostly of plant material such as grass stems, shoots, and leaves, but also including invertebrates and, on occasion, the young of other bird species. This specimen was misidentified as a Purple Swamphen in original catalogue records and is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This taxidermy specimen is of a Australasian swamphen which is mounted standing on a wooden platform and has a paper identification tag tied to its upper left leg. The specimen has dark colouring on its back and head with a purple-blue coloured neck, breast and belly. The bill is oversized and is orange/red which is the same colour as the frontal shield on the bird's face. The eyes are made from a red and black glass and the legs of this specimen are orange. The legs are elongated and the toes also long and unwebbed. 17e. / Purple Gallinule / Catalogue Page 35 / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, swamphen, moorhen, purple bird, hen, purple swamphen, water bird

Silver coloured metal badge with decoration on front surface in white, blue, green, yellow and red enamel. At back are two metal loops and separate metal pins for use in attaching the badge to a hat. ON FRONT;Image of a bird (Shrike) symbolising the South Australian Ambulance Service ON REAR " A. J Parkes" (Manufacturer)badge

Black and white photographWritten on back of photograph: "Les Mabus, Bedford Rd, Ringwood feeding lyre bird in Sherbrooke Forest".

William Melrose volunteered as an oarsman in the Portland Lifeboat on the second and successfil attempt at rescue when he rowed manfully through the breakers. He was awarded a Silver Medal and [pound mark]12.10.0.Paper certificate mounted under glass and framed. Frame is carved wood, stained brown. Top corner is a carved scotch thistle, bottom corner has carved anchors. Centre of each side has a cavity for the medals. At the bottom centre is the Admella Relief and Reward Fund Draft certificate of reward to William Melrose Seaman 'Lady Bird' Melbourne Nov 12th 1859. Photograph of William Melrose in uniform with his two medals pinned to his jacket. A coat of arms is carved at the top centre with the motto "PER-MARE-PER-TERRAS".Front: Admella Relief and Reward Fund Draft certificate of reward to William Melrose Seaman 'Lady Bird' Melbourne Nov 12th 1859. Services rendered - volunteered as an oarsman in the Portland Lifeboat on the second and successfil attempt at rescue when he rowed manfully through the breakers. He was awarded a Silver Medal and [pound mark]12.10.0. Back: (no inscriptions)admella, shipwreck, portland lifeboat, rescue, reward

Item issued to Mrs M HEWSTON. Part of the HEWSTON collection WW1 & WW2.Volunteer Air Observer Corp Badge. Round, metal, blue, white & red centre with gold depiction of a bird centre, pin on rear.On rear: “Dept of Air 10774”numismatics-badges-military, metalcraft, observer

Coloured Photograph of A Painting of Henty ship Lady Bird 274 mm X 201 mm Sh 148 Ships I - Lflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph, lady bird

Digital copy of membership certificate of Gould League of Bird Lovers of Victoria, certifying Lynette Carol Nink as a member, including her signature

Round tin painted black and red with gold lettering. Bird in gold circle on centre of lid. Tin contains remnants of tan polishKiwi boot polish. Tan. Net 1 1/2 oz|Thoroughly waterproofdomestic items, containers

Colour photograph of a small bird photographed in Central Ballarat. Grey fantail (rhipidura fuliginosa) or (Rhipidura albiscapa). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_fantailballarat, bird, fantail

Small wooden trinket box with hinged lid painted with birds and leaves, bottom inscribed Hilary Constance Malone 2nd April 1900.personal effects, containers, box

Silver spoon with racquet motif on end of handle. Bird hallmark stamped on reverse, and 'JL&S' makers mark. Materials: Silver/Metaltennis

This is after paired photograph used in the 150 year, Lakes Entrance 1858-2008 display.|The before paired photograph number 02218|Also one 12 x 16 framed photograph used in room display.Colour photograph showing Lake Bunga near Lakes Entrance with the remains of tramline crossing, birds sitting on the remains. Lake Bunga Victoriabridges, waterways, transport, tramline

After a quiet period, interest in bookplates in Australia began to increase in the early 1970s, Entrepreneurial art and book collectors such as Edwin Jewell and others commissioned multiple Bookplate designs from a range of well known fine artists. At a 1997 meeting in Melbourne of the Ephemera Society of Australia Edwin Jewell and others announced the formation of the Australian Bookplate Society. The society was instrumental in promoting the art of the bookplate through establishment of the Australian Bookplate Design competition. Kookaburra in flight holding book in beak with MK lower left beneath bird's wing in plate and signed Mary Keep beneath image.Signature of Mary Keep in pencil beneath print.keith wingrove memorial trust, australian bookplate design awards 2020, mary keep, bookplates

This small item was collected by an Australian serviceman during the conflict in Vietnam.Wooden and paper matchbox with striking area on sides of cover and graphic of bird and flame and Vietnamese writing on blue, black, red and white cover.Chieu-hoi/ hay. keu goi nguoi than ve hoi chanh de cham dut/lo au cho sinh mang homatchbox, nvvm, vietnamese matches, matches, vietnam

The Pacific Black Duck is also known as the Grey Duck in New Zealand. Despite these names, the plumage of the bird is brown in colour with the occasional cream and small amount of black. This species of Duck is located in all of Australia with the exception of the most arid zones. They can also be found throughout the Pacific region. The Pacific Black Duck resides in a range of different habitats that have some sort of water. These birds feed on aquatic plants, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insects. To catch their food, these birds plunge their heads and necks under the water with their rear raising above the top of the water. This technique is termed "dabbing". This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.Despite its name, the Black Duck is largely brown in colouring. It has a mixture of light brown and cream plumage on the neck, face and stomach. The wings and rear of the duck are a darker brown. Each brown feather is bordered with a cream colour which separates the feathers from each other. The top of the head is also dark brown and there is a darker stripe of black colour horizontally on either side of the eye. The specimen has two brown and black glass eyes and a black bill. The legs and webbed feet are a dark brown and black colour. Tied around the left leg is a paper identification tag. The number 134 is inscribed on the left side of the wooden platform on which the bird is standing. This specimen is stocky.3a. / Australian Wild Duck / See Catalogue, Page 38. /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, duck, pacific black duck, grey duck, australian duck

Copy of black and white photograph mounted on board.Lunchtime 1949- Ray Brooke, Ron Henderson, David Griffith, George Bird, Trevor Treadwell & Edwin Murby.williamstown high school, 1949

Gold trimmed white ceramic mug with handle and log depicting a blackbird with red hat and beak holding a bomb, a blue box and yellow moon. Star on blue back groundMotto: Alone! Unarmed! Unafraid? Black birds. On reverse side Aussie in black printing with gold border to lettersmug, 12th tac recon sqn

Photographs of corellas on the window ledge of the Geoffrey Blainey Research Centre, Mount Helen. corella, birds, mount helen

Dead parrot c.1960s, possibly at Birch CottageBlack and white printbirds, george w bell collection, birch cottage

Language reader.Colour photographs, maps, word listsnoongar, western australia, birds

Language reader.Colour photographs, word lists, CDnoongar, western australia, birds

Language reader.Colour photographs, word lists, CDnoongar, western australia, birds

Language reader.Colour photographs, word lists, CDnoongar, western australia, birds

Language reader.CDnoongar, western australia, birds

Oil on composition boardSigned l.l. cnr., purple oil ".R Forbes"face, jar, birds

swans, birds, fauna

Black and white photograph showing crowd gathered at launch of the fishing platform installed by Tambo Nicholson Management Group and Department of Natural Resources and Environment on the bank of the Tambo River Victoria. Also three other black and white photographs showing the TAFE students under LEAP program building the fishing platform. birds, fishing, jetties