Apr 4, 2022
Love science and conservation? Want to discover new ways to protect our species? Elle Kaye chats with guests who work within the science genre, but whose job titles may need a little unpacking. Strap in for entomology, taxidermy, diaphonization, pet remains, human pathology and all those that work with specimens. In episode 032 Elle chats with Dr. Allison Shultz about how she became Assistant Curator of Ornithology at NHMLA. We discuss her research in colouration and plumeology, and she gives us an education in why birds look the way that they are and what are the genes that make up colours. We discuss plumage evolution and micro-structure, as well as the role, form and function of feathers. Dr. Allison also discusses her role at the museum and the types of specimens and study-skins she works with. Dr. Allison Shultz Socials
https://www.instagram.com/ajshultz622
https://www.Instagram.com/tauraco.designs
https://twitter.com/ajshultz622
Profiles NHMLA
https://nhm.org/person/shultz-allison
https://nhm.org/stories/our-bird-curators-new-perch
La Brea Tar Pits Museum
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
San Diego Zoo (live cams link, because, well, live cams)
https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
Great Frigate Bird
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_frigatebird
Structural Colour Article
https://nhm.org/stories/how-and-why-colorful-feathers
Turacin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turacin
Museum of Vertabrate Zoology
“Meet the Scientist” by (NHMLA) video interview with Dr. Allison Shultz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i7i6KBEB8E
Articles/Research on Coloration
https://www.allisonshultz.com/research
Leucism
https://www.audubon.org/news/why-bird-half-white
Elle Kaye socials
www.instagram.com/ellekayetaxidermy
Podcast socials
www.instagram.com/specimenspod
www.ellekayetaxidermy.co.uk/product-page/specimenspodmerch
Artwork © 2021 Madison Erin Mayfield
www.instagram.com/madisonerinmayfield
https://twitter.com/MEMIllustration
Music
Giraffes - Harrison Amer via premiumbeat.com
Researched, edited and produced by Elle Kaye
Concept/Title © 2020 Elle Kaye