Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future — But Facing New Challenges
At the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, our collections help tell the story of life on Earth. A significant part of our bird collection includes more than 36,000 bird egg clutches, representing more than 2,000 species from around the world.
Within that larger collection are more than 10,500 clutches of songbird eggs. These fragile specimens are valuable for research and education, helping scientists understand biodiversity, environmental change, and conservation.
In 2024, we were awarded a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support the long-term preservation of this songbird egg collection. The project was intended to provide funding to purchase archival, acid-free boxes and hire an intern to help us rehouse the eggs. This is an important conservation step to prevent damage from Byne’s disease, a chemical reaction that can harm eggshells over time.
Unfortunately, we learned that our grant — along with many others across the country — was canceled.
This decision was part of a broader action impacting IMLS and many museums and libraries nationwide. We had already purchased the boxes, which are now in production, and were awaiting reimbursement as promised by the terms of the grant. Fortunately, a week after the cancelation, we received the reimbursement from IMLS. While it wasn’t the entire grant amount, we were at least able to receive the funds spent on the project.
While this is a setback, our commitment to caring for our collections has not changed. Preserving these eggs remains a priority for us, and we are exploring how to move this important work forward.
We’re grateful for the many donors who have helped us bridge the gap for this important project. Learn more about the project and why it’s important from Matthew Halley, Ph.D., the museum’s Research Director & Curator, Bird Collection.
Help support the collections
To help us bridge this gap — as well as future conservation challenges — please consider donating to our Collections & Research fund to help protect and preserve these precious specimens for today’s scientists and future generations.
We are grateful for your support as we navigate this unexpected challenge. Together, we will continue protecting these irreplaceable specimens for future generations.
