Sophie Warny, Ph.D. MNS Education Director

The Mission of theThe Mission of theLSU Museum of Natural ScienceLSU Museum of Natural Science

Acquisition,Acquisition, Preservation, andPreservation, and StudyStudy

of research collections to generate knowledge ofof research collections to generate knowledge of::

Regional and global biodiversity,Regional and global biodiversity, Geological history, andGeological history, and Human history and prehistoryHuman history and prehistory

for the benefit of the people of the state, the nation, and the for the benefit of the people of the state, the nation, and the world.world.

Divisions of the LSU MNSDivisions of the LSU MNS

7 main fields of RESEARCH7 main fields of RESEARCH Ornithology (Birds)Ornithology (Birds) GeneticsGenetics Ichthyology (Fishes)Ichthyology (Fishes) MammalogyMammalogy Herpetology (Reptiles and Amphibians)Herpetology (Reptiles and Amphibians) Vertebrate PaleontologyVertebrate Paleontology Anthropology (Archaeology and Ethnography)Anthropology (Archaeology and Ethnography)

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Forming the next generation of curators

OrnithologyOrnithologyDr. Fred Sheldon (Director and Curator)Dr. Van Remsen (Ornithology Curator)

Genetic ResourcesGenetic ResourcesDr. Fred Sheldon (Director and Curator)

Dr. Robb Brumfield (Genetic Resources Curator)

Building collections and preserving them...

Research helps with conservation and restoration...

IchthyologyIchthyologyDr. Mike Fitzimons

Research on host-parasite systems: (pocket gophers and their chewing lice).

MammalogyMammalogyDr. Mark Hafner

HerpetologyHerpetologyDr. Chris Austin

DiscoveringNewSpecies

Vertebrate PaleontologyVertebrate PaleontologyDr. Judith Schiebout

Understanding

OurPast

Learning about previous societies.

AnthropologyAnthropologyDr. Becky Saunders

Satellite imagery shows location of mounds and embankments

King George Island Mounds, Livingston Parish, 4500 years ago

Public Outreach and K-12 EducationPublic Outreach and K-12 EducationDr. Sophie Warny

Field trips

- Dioramas of interest for bird-related topics

- Practical details for visits

Children’s activity book: to do at MNS or school

- English

- French

LA’spast

LA’spresent World

Various topics

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Bottomland Forest

Hall of Birds

Heronry in LA

Coastal Island

1 Bottomland Forest - = a forest with large mature trees

- Last BL forest in LA was in Madison Parish (1943)

- Linked to extinction of Ivory-billed woodpecker (specimen on display is from 1899)

- The white-tailed deer was able to adapt and survive

- A series of questions on:

- Habitat- Loss of habitat- Extinction

How to recognize the Ivory-billed woodpecker if you see it!

2 Coastal Island - Louisiana’s barrier islands

- Birds help stabilize the islands by depositing nutrients that help establish vegetation

- Eggs are camouflaged and deposited on the ground

- Human visits during nesting can be disastrous.

- Gulls: pick food from surface, skimmers: fly above water to skim &catch fish, terns: fly, dive & retrieve.

Use this topic to introduce climate change!

3 Heronry in LA Human effects on bird population: Avery Island and the Snowy Egrets

- Hat makers killed them by thousands as the feathers were used to decorate hats.

- by 1900’s, very few left.

- Conservationist Edward Mcllhenny set aside swamp land as a refuge: From 7 to over 100,000 birds.

- Herons and egrets do not have webbed feet, they eat fish/frogs in shallow water.

Use this topic to introduce invasive species!

The “Hall of Birds” was designed to have one of every species recorded in LA as of about 1970 (thus the Snowy Owl and a few other rarities) and to help with identifications.

4 Hall of Birds

- Arranged taxonomically (relationship between birds)

- Use it to look at differences in the beaks and feet.

- Mainly: Gulls and terns Dove and pigeons Owls Woodpeckers Passerines Herons and egrets Pelicans Shorebirds Prairie birds Raptors

Use these pages to introduce main bird characteristics. Feel free to reproduce these pages.

Practical DetailsPractical DetailsGeneral Info

& Tours

Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

FREE!

SchedulingMaterials

RulesParking

…

MNS Activity BookletMNS Activity Booklet

Activities forSelf-guided tours

The MNS book is available:- in French thanks to:… Anne-Sophie & Stanislas Dubois

- in Spanish thanks to:… Ana Morales

- Feathers with Adrienne

- Feeding and beak adaptationswith Rebecca

Learning about: