Environmental biology and zoology junior Whitney Allen looks at the Avelution special exhibition before her mammal biology lab Tuesday at the MSU Museum. “It’s pretty cool,” she explained about the exhibit inspired by Charles Darwin’s research and observation of birds. The exhibit runs until June and contains items like bird skeletons and special breeds of pigeons and chickens.
A new exhibit in the MSU Museum took flight this week to coincide with the museum’s Darwin Discovery Day.
The exhibit, called Avelution, focuses on birds highlighted by famed biologist Charles Darwin in his theories on evolution. The museum will host its Darwin Discovery Day from 1-5 p.m. Feb. 14.
“(This exhibit is) the first to be related to Darwin Discovery Day,” MSU Museum Communications Director Lora Helou said.
Danita Brandt, co-chairwoman of the event’s planning committee and an associate professor of geological sciences, said she wants to attract more people to the museum for Darwin Discovery Day with this year’s Darwin museum exhibit.
The museum has hosted its Darwin Discovery Day, which is held in conjunction with Darwin’s Feb. 12 birthday, since 2005, Brandt said.
“It’s an excuse to celebrate natural science,” Brandt said. “Every year for Darwin Discovery Day, we try to have a theme highlighting Darwin’s work. … We have been averaging 500 visitors (for Darwin Discovery Day). We get a lot of people that come every year after year because they have such a good time.”
Avelution will include species Darwin researched in Patagonia as well as his studies on domestic pigeon and chicken breeds.
“We decided that we have enough material that we could mount an exhibit to coincide our one day of activities,” Brandt said.
Last year, the museum added a new exhibit in time for Darwin Discovery Day, but Helou said it was not related to Darwin.
“(This exhibit is the) first one created that is related to Darwin Day,” Helou said.
“I think people really like the aspect that some (of the displays) come from as far away as South America.”
Darwin’s original spellings and use of names of birds were maintained in the exhibit, although different names are used today, according to the exhibit.
“Birds were a very important part of Darwin’s studies in evolution,” MSU Museum Director Gary Morgan said.
Morgan, who was named the MSU Museum’s director in June, said he is looking forward to the museum’s Darwin-related activities.
“It’s great to see the calendar of the museum unfold throughout the year,” Morgan said.
“I think (the Darwin events are) great. It’s very user-friendly.”
Morgan said taxidermy, which is the stuffing and mounting of dead animals for display, is a “very fine way” to present the exhibit.
“It’s a nice mix of old and new,” Morgan said. “It’s quite an opportunity for people. It’s rare for people to see such an array of birds.”
The exhibit’s opening reception and gallery tour is slated for noon on Feb. 5 and the museum will house the exhibit through June.
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