Planes, birds, microscopes, and DNA
Smithsonian scientists do more than investigate bird-aircraft collisions - they push the limits of bird identification
Published:
February 20, 2009
| Wildlife biologist Jennifer A. Lynch describes how Carla Dove, head of the aviation bird-strike team, and other scientists at the Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Lab at the National Museum of Natural History identify birds that are struck by civilian and military aircraft. The researchers compare bird remains against specimens in the museum's collection, examine feather fragments by microscope, and employ DNA barcoding techniques. According to the National Wildlife Strike Database, U.S. civilian aircraft strike birds 35,000 times a year. |
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