Vulture Culture

quick disclaimer: this will be more focused on bone cleaning and wet specimens because those are my areas of interest and therefore what I feel the most comfortable giving advice on

if you specialize in pelts or taxidermy feel free to add on your advice or resources!

the migratory birds treaty - a must read if you're in north america

birds that are exempt

places for tips/advice:

mickeyalicekwapis.com - has great blog posts from a professional taxidermist. covers everything from basic advice to ethics to advice on starting your own business

taxidermy.net - the og forum for taxidermy and bone cleaning advice. ive found questions answered here that I havent been able to find answered anywhere else on the internet. the members of this forum are like the old gods of vulture culture

r/vultureculture, r/taxidermy, r/bonecollecting, and r/wetspecimens - the reddit community can be kind of toxic but ive found some great advice and friendly people here. you also dont need an account to browse which is a plus

I also recommend @earthenremains' pinned post for some great articles and info on laws. in general dont be afraid to ask myself or someone else in the vulture culture community if you have more questions or need advice! most people will be happy to help if they can

guides:

wet preservation:

wet specimens by mickeyalicekwapis

useful thread on wet specimens

wet specimens: important note about formalin

more info on wet preservation

bones:

bone cleaning

bone cleaning guide from a forensics doctor

how NOT to clean bones

bone whitening by @roadkillandcrows

bone cleaning masterlist

taxidermy/pelts:

skinning guide part 1 and part 2 by @blackbackedjackal

face shaping guide by @blackbackedjackal

general:

buyers guide by @blackbackedjackal

buyers/sellers guide by @earthenremains

places to buy bones, taxidermy, wet specimens, and vulture culture art:

skullstore.ca - can be pricey if you're outside Canada or the USA but these guys are extremely reputable and have a pretty insane range of oddities

darlingdeadadorments.com - some of the most beautiful jewellery and pre-made displays ive ever seen

pacificremains - bone cleaning services, etsy - super experienced and they have some really cool wet specimens on their etsy page

animalautopsy - super cool bone jewellery

demon kitty designs - makes some incredibly cool curio necklaces with insect wings, bones, shells, and other trinkets

places where you can acquire dead animals:

local parks, roadkill, woods and rivers - look in undisturbed places, on the sides of busy roads (remember to be careful of passing cars), underneath powerlines and near bodies of water

pet stores - from what I've heard chains will be more reluctant to give/sell to you than smaller businesses, but it never hurts to ask as long as you're professional and respectful

breeders, especially breeders of feeder animals like mice and rats

other places to get bones and taxidermy:

• estate sales - heres a handy guide I found on mickeyalicekwapis.com

• thrift stores, oddity shops, and antique stores

Prep No. KHE89

The main muscles that power flight are located in the chest of the bird, but thin tendons connect these muscles to control specific motions of the wings. Though a little morbid, during prep, it’s incredibly educational (and maybe fun…) to experiment with which tendons control which movements.

My first wet specimens! Some kind of Finch and a young chick.