Natural History

Monthly Archive: December Natu

Are you Afraid FOR Bats This Halloween?

Posted: October 30, 2014 - 20:53 , by ROM
Categories: 
Natural History, Nature, Biodiversity, Conservation, Mammalogy
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two little brown bats fly in a twilit sky over Rouge Park during the 2012 Ontario BioBlitz. Photo by Stacey Lee Kerr

I love bats. There’s just something about them that gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside everytime I see one. Now I know what you (and to be honest, a lot of people I know) are thinking - how can she like such a creepy little mammal like a bat? Don’t they suck your blood/get caught in your hair/give you the heebie jeebies? First of all, the answer to those questions is no.

Blue Whale Update: Where is it Now?

Posted: October 20, 2014 - 14:43 , by ROM
Categories: 
Biodiversity, Research & Collections, Natural History, Nature, Behind the Scenes, New Acquisition
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A beached blue whale on the Newfoundland coast, strapped up and ready to be transported to Woody Point for recovery. Photo by Jacqueline C. Waters

Guest Blog Posting by Environmental Visual Communication (EVC) student, Nila Sivatheesan

The "Maple Leaf Forever Tree" Lives On

Posted: October 17, 2014 - 14:28 , by ROM
Categories: 
Biodiversity, Natural History, History, Canada, Nature, Artist
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Eco-Woodturner, Michael Finkelstein, works on a set of nesting bowls in his studio. Photo by Justine DiCesare

A year after a storm toppled the famous "Maple Leaf Forever Tree" in Leslieville, Toronto-based artisan and Eco-woodturner Michael Finkelstein wanted to help preserve this beautiful, 150-year old silver maple tree for future generations to enjoy through his artwork.

Empty Skies: Resurrecting the Passenger Pigeon Backdrop

Posted: September 18, 2014 - 22:41 , by ROM
Categories: 
Biodiversity, Natural History, Nature, Collections, Exhibitions and Galleries, Behind the Scenes
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a passenger pigeon mounted specimen sits in the Empty skies exhibit in front of the digitally restored backdrop

A long time ago, in a ROM gallery quite different from today’s, there was a diorama that showcased a migrating flock of passenger pigeons.... 

To X-Ray an Egg: Behind the Scenes of Empty Skies

Posted: September 11, 2014 - 23:50 , by ROM
Categories: 
Biodiversity, Nature, Natural History, Conservation, Art and Artifact Conservation, Collections, Behind-the-scenes
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the flashing sign in the x-ray lab glows white with red text that reads "x-ray room in operation, do not enter"

“That egg is approximately one hundred and forty-four years old,” says Brad Millen, a technician who works in the ROM’s Natural History collections. Suddenly the large speckled shell that sits in the palm of my hand feels just a little bit heavier. I feel the weight of its place in the world - it is the egg of a passenger pigeon, and its species has been extinct for a hundred years.

Empty Skies: Behind-the-Scenes - Recreating Passenger Pigeon Habitat

Posted: September 5, 2014 - 00:08 , by ROM
Categories: 
Nature, Natural History, Biodiversity, Collections, Exhibitions and Galleries, Behind-the-scenes
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ROM Artist Georgia Guenther gives a passenger pigeon mount a final check before installing it into the exhibit

Come behind-the-scenes with environmental visual communication students/guest bloggers Justine DiCesare and Vincent Luk to take a look using photos and video to see how the flowers and scenery were created for the new exhibit: Empty Skies: The Passenger Pigeon Legacy.

Empty Skies: Who Are the Species At Risk?

Posted: August 28, 2014 - 15:25 , by ROM
Categories: 
Natural History, Nature, Biodiversity, Exhibitions and Galleries, Collections
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A museum preparator collects the Species At Risk that will be added to the Empty Skies Passenger Pigeon exhibit

In the case across from the Passenger Pigeons in the new Empty Skies exhibit, eleven different Species At Risk birds are on display. But who are these species? What are their stories? 

First Peek at Empty Skies: The Legacy of the Passenger Pigeon

Posted: August 21, 2014 - 23:02 , by ROM
Categories: 
Natural History, Nature, Biodiversity, Behind-the-scenes, Exhibitions and Galleries, Collections
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Stuffed passenger pigeons from the ROM collections sit on a table in the Gallery of Birds waiting to be installed in the new special exhibit

The ROM's latest special exhibit, Empty Skies: The Legacy of the Passenger Pigeon swoops in this Saturday, August 23. Get an exclusive first glimpse at the behind-the-scenes of the exhibit being installed!

Biodiversity in the City: Toronto Biodiversity Series Launch

Posted: August 12, 2014 - 17:45 , by ROM
Categories: 
Biodiversity, Nature, Natural History
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A volunteer gathers a stack of Toronto Biodiversity Series books on a table

In summer 2014, the public was invited to the Evergreen Brickworks for the launch of the “Biodiversity Series of Toronto”. The four guidebooks highlighted at the event were “Mammals of Toronto”, “Spiders of Toronto”, “Reptiles and Amphibians of Toronto”, and “Butterflies of Toronto”.

Study explores evolution of flightless birds

Posted: May 16, 2014 - 11:58 , by royal
Categories: 
Nature, Biodiversity, Natural History, Ornithology, Research
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Tinamous
Allan Baker and colleagues from Royal Ontario Museum, University of Toronto and Ontario Institute for Cancer Research used genetic techniques to show that tinamous, small flying birds from Central and South America, evolved within the ratites group.