The Kookaburra is a sociable bird commonly seen in small flocks. These flocks mainly consist of family members. If not in flocks, these birds are commonly seen in pairs. They have a distinct appearance with brown wings, back and brown around the eyes, with majority of the plumage being white. This species reside in woodlands and open forests, however they can be seen in parks, wetlands, farms and any other space that is open with grass. This native Australian bird can mainly be found across the eastern Australia, however they have been introduced Tasmania, South-west Western Australia and New Zealand. Although this is a taxidermy mount, it looks exactly like a Kookaburra in real life. 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.This Kookaburra has a predominantly white body. The back, wings and tail are a light shade of brown. There is a strip of brown going across the eyes. This specimen stands upon a wooden branch and has an identification tag ties around its leg. This bird is stout in shape and has a medium length tail and a broad bill. This bill is darker on top and lighter in colour on the bottom.W8083 / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, kookaburra, australian birds, laughing kookaburra

The Eastern Whipbird isusually be found in pairs. They have a distinct white stripe on either side of the beak which helps to identify this bird. This species generally resides in wet habitats such as wetlands and rainforests, where there is dense vegetation. The Eastern Whipbird can be commonly found along the east coast of Australia. Since this is a taxidermy mount, there are a few inconsistencies. The main inconsistency is the colour of the specimen, the plumage should be an olive-green colour. This particular colouring has likely faded due to the taxidermy process and also the age of the specimen. There should also be black plume on top of the head which is missing from this specimen. 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.This Eastern Whipbird is a small species of bird which has a dramatic stripe of white colouring on either side of the small bill and the crest is black. The belly and throat are black while the back, wings and tail are dark brown. This specimen stands upon a wooden perch and has an identification tag tied around its leg.25a / Thickhead / catalogue page 11taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, eastern whipbird, australian birds

The Dusky Woodswallow is often found in flocks which can be located in two separate populations. The Eastern population if located in Atherton Tableland in Queensland south to Tasmania and west to Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The other population is found in south-west Western Australia. They reside in open forests and woodlands. This species is surprisingly aggressive and may fight with other Woodswallows for territory and nest sights. They will even chase raptors away from their homes. This species flies in flocks of around 10 to 30 birds which cluster together. In terms of diet, these birds eat insects and nectar from flowers. 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.The Dusky Woodswallow has largely deep brown colouring with some areas of grey on the head, neck and chest. There is a deeper brown colouring between the wings on the back of the specimen and the wings are black. This bird has a small curved bill which is grey and white. The legs are dark grey and the bird has long talons with an extra long toe in the centre. The eyes are made of brown glass with a back pupil. The bird is styalised standing on a wooden mount and has a paper identification tag attached to its right leg.[torn] / 9 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, swallow, woodswallow, dusky woodswallow

Noisy Miners are native to Australia and can be found on the East Coast. Noisy Miners live in northern Queensland and all along the eastern coast to South Australia and Tasmania. Noisy Miners are found in woodlands and open forests. They have also become well adapted to suburban situations and are a common sight in parks and gardens. The Noisy Miner feeds on nectar, fruits and insects. Very occasionally they will eat small reptiles and amphibians. Food is either taken from trees or on the ground. In keeping with its highly social nature, the Noisy Miner usually feeds in large groups. The Noisy miner specimen is mounted accurately. 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.The Noisy Miner is identified by its mostly grey body and black crown and cheeks. The bill is yellow, as are the legs and the naked skin behind the eye. The name is well suited as the common calls are uttered repeatedly by the members of the colony .Despite their moderate size, Noisy Miners aggressively attack larger birds such as hawks and kookaburras. These attacks may be so vigorous that most other birds are excluded from an area occupied by Noisy Miners.Swing tag: 65a. Garrulous Honey-Eater / See Catalogue, page 19 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, noisy miner, garrulous honeyeater, yellow beak, honeyeater, east coast

This fairly large woodpecker of the Picadae family is widely distributed across most parts of Europe and the UK, with some occurrence in Western Asia. Preferring semi-open habitats such as woodlands, heathlands and gardens, the species is unique amongst woodpeckers as it prefers to hunt and feed on the ground for its ant prey. This species has a distinctive bright red crown, black moustasche-like stripes, mostly green back plumage and a paler green to yellow breast. This is a female of the species as the male has a red centre to the moustache stripe at the side of the beak. This specimen is a fairly accurate depiction of a Green Woodpecker. 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.This Green Woodpecker has a distinctive red crown on its head that appears patchy. It has a black face, a black moustache-like stripe on each side of the beak, pale eyes and long light yellow-orange beak. The back of the bird is green, and its flank and breast is a pale cream-yellow colour. It has slightly visible distinct white-dotted brown feathers folded into its wings. The specimen is mounted on a wooden perch, with a metal tag tied around its right leg and a paper tag around each leg.Swing tag: 1e. / Green Woodpecker / Catalogue page 66 / Metal tag: 4308 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, woodpecker, green woodpecker, eurasian green woodpecker

Hobbies are mainland birds that prefer to spend their time in forests and woodlands. They are widespread in Australia's colder eastern states, particularly Adelaide, Victoria, and Southern NSW. With a diet of bats, insects, and small birds, they use their refined wing structure, which is long and narrow in shape, more suited to speed than precision, and sharp reflexes to catch prey in mid-flight. Because they are members of the Falconidae and Falconiformes raptor families and have similar characteristics, they are frequently confused with their relative, the Peregrine Falcon. Close inspection reveals that they are half the size and have a more pronounced dark masking around the eyes. 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.The Australian Hobby is a medium-sized bird with a falcon-like appearance, long wings, and a commanding posture and presence. This bird has a distinctive brown/black helmet on its head, as well as a mask-like face that is highlighted by the prominent white half collar. Over the top of reddish brown underpart feathers, streaks of black lined patterns decorate the protruding chest. With its squared off tail feathers, the bird's back is dark brown and appears elongated and domineering. It is perched on a wooden stand and is secured with wire that does not obscure the talons.No swing tagtaxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, falcon, falconidae, falconiformes, peregrine falcon

The Satin Bowerbird is a medium-sized common bird found from Queensland to Victoria in rainforests and wet sclerophyll forest. During the summer, the diet consists mostly of fruit, with insects as a supplement. They're famous for their courtship behaviour and for decorating stick-structured nests with blue sparkling objects. With it's stunning glossy blue-black feathers, which evolve from green-brown in appearance, this Satin Bowerbird is more than seven years old, and therefore not any younger as they are often mistaken for females, which are supposed to look like the green catbird. The eyes of this mature male are violet-blue, and the bill is pale bluish white. 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.Satin Bowerbirds are medium-sized birds. The adult male has striking glossy blue-black plumage, a pale bluish white bill and a violet-blue iris.47a / Satin Bower-bird / See Catalogue, page 16 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, satin bowerbird, bowerbird

The Brown Falcon is a small to medium bird of prey which can be found all throughout Australia. These birds are raptors and typically feed on mammals, birds, snakes, insects and rabbits. The Brown Falcon are located in all but the densest forests. They typically prefer to reside in locations of open grassland and agricultural areas which have scattered trees or telephone poles which the bird can perch on. When frequenting towns located in the Australian Outback, these birds are reportedly quite tame and can be approached by humans. They may stay in the same location throughout the year or chose to move around locally in response to any changes in weather conditions. 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 centuryThis 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.The Brown Falcon specimen has plumage which is mostly brown and intermixed with white. This provides the appearance of having spotted colouring on the birds back. The head is also mostly brown with white under the beak area and a characteristic brown streak under the eye area. The eye is made from dark coloured glass.3 / Brown Hawk / See Catalogue, page 2 / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, brown falcon, falconidae