DelMNS Interns Preserve Songbird Eggs and History
With the help of donors and the grant’s reinstatement, work on transferring more than 10,500 clutches of songbird eggs is underway. The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science’s songbird egg collection summer interns are helping to preserve the valuable songbird collection, which holds information about various bird species for future generations to use in research and education. Each intern measures the number of eggs in a clutch and the archival paper to transfer the songbird egg collection into new acid-free, archival boxes.
Meet Delaware Museum of Nature and Science’s songbird egg collection summer interns, Anna Heckscher and Sophia Wackett.
Anna is a rising junior at Appoquinimink High School who is aspiring to be a veterinarian in the future. One of Anna’s first experiences with animals was bird watching with her father, Dr. Christopher (Kitt) Heckscher, an ornithologist. Due to her interest in animals and experience bird watching, Anna decided to become a summer intern. Through helping with the preservation of songbird eggs, Anna notes the importance of the collection, as “scientists can look back and do studies on them.” Outside of interning, Anna participates in horseback riding, softball, marching band, and Future Farmers of America (FFA). In her free time, Anna enjoys camping, hiking in the mountains, and spending time with family and friends.
Sophia is a rising sophomore at the University of Delaware in the Honor’s college. She is double majoring in wildlife ecology and conservation as well as insect ecology and conservation. Sophia’s interest in wildlife sparked from the museum’s carcass club, where she experienced birds in a different light. Due to her interest in wildlife and history, Sopia decided to become a summer intern. As an intern, she has been able to “see history that not a lot of other people get to experience.” Outside of interning, Sophia is a member of Epsilon Eta and she works at a local farmer’s market in an aviary. In her free time, Sophia enjoys hiking, being outside, going to the beach, and spending time with friends.
