A unique journey of a rare bird has led it from New Guinea to a taxidermist’s workshop, then to a dumpster in northern Ontario, and finally to the Canadian Museum of Nature. Gregory Rand, the collections manager for birds and mammals at the Ottawa museum, recently showcased the taxidermied red bird-of-paradise on CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning. This exotic bird, native to select Pacific islands, boasts a striking appearance with a black head, burnt-yellow neck and shoulders, various shades of brown on its back, and two distinct twirly tail streamers.
Despite its unique features, the discovery of the bird in a dumpster in Elliot Lake, a city in northern Ontario, came as a surprise. Initially mistaken for a Canadian shrike, the red bird of paradise stood out in the background of a picture sent to Rand. The origins of this rare specimen’s journey to the museum in Gatineau, Que., remain largely unknown, with signs of sun damage indicating possible years of display in sunlight. Rand suggests that the bird may have been taxidermied in the late 1800s or early 1900s.
The mystery of how the bird ended up in Elliot Lake continues to puzzle researchers. Speculations include scenarios where it was purchased, inherited, and eventually discarded in a house cleanout, finding its way to the dumpster. Now part of the museum’s collection, the bird holds potential for educational and research purposes. The museum’s research facility in Gatineau will open its doors to the public during the annual open house on Oct. 18.
In a quest for unique artifacts, local museums showcased an array of oddities, from wax fruit replicas to an underwater microphone and Roman coins. The intriguing journey of the red bird of paradise has added a touch of wonder to the Canadian Museum of Nature’s archives, leaving behind a trail of curiosity about its transcontinental voyage.