Birdsong fills the room, the perfect audio to accompany work produced in response to the museums’ Flying Free project, and their collection of taxidermy birds from Cornwall and beyond. It is Earth Day, and across the country exhibitions are opening as part of the national project, The Wild Escape. For their participation in the project, year six pupils from Nansloe Academy in Helston have bought together ideas about science, art, and conservation, creating habitats and writing diaries to imagine the ‘escape back to the wild’ of the museum’s seven taxidermy birds – Lapwing, Chough, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Feral Pigeon, and Galah!

In a bold and colourful display, the children have blended fact, imagination, and creativity to tell the story of these birds; past, present, and future.

Lapwing diaries give written accounts, from the birds point of view, of the day he escaped back to his natural habitat. The great spotted woodpecker comes alive in bright stencils against a lit backdrop, highlighting her distinctive red cap. The Cornish Chough is beautifully illustrated and surrounded by written reminders of their conservation status and importance to the county.

Just over a month ago, a workshop was held with the children in preparation for the project. The taxidermy specimens were revealed, and with wildlife identification books and a bird expert on hand, the children researched and discovered facts about the birds, their habitats, and the unique ways in which each of them adapt to an ever changing world. Enthusiastic and inquisitive, the children left armed with information which would help them in the next part of the project – working with local artist Melanie Young to bring to life the birds’ wild escape.

With the birds as their starting point, and using etching techniques, paper cut-outs, paint, and written word, the children worked towards creating habitats for the birds. Melanie, who works with a variety of different groups to encourage wellbeing and develop creative skills, talks about how having the physical specimens helped the children with what they produced: ‘Having access to the birds in the museum gave the children a connection that is hard to achieve via a computer or from pictures. They could clearly see the birds faces, understand scale, and look closely at details such as feathers and beaks.’

Preserving animals in this way has, and still does, provide important research materials for the study of animals. The birds in this collection are a great example of where taxidermy can provide valuable learning tools for modern projects which promote awareness, education, and conversations around the protection of animal species. Hein Van Grouw, the bird curator at London’s Natural History Museum, sees the same benefits in the use of taxidermy in learning experiences, explaining that, ‘Taxidermy is a vital tool that allows us to teach about the huge range of life on Earth… We haven’t found a better way do that yet, even with all the technology available to us. Having the real thing in front of you will always make more of an impact than a plastic model, digital reconstruction or photo.’ (Natural History Museum, N.D).

The first taxidermy was carried out by ancient Egyptians. Using embalming methods, oils, and spices, they would preserve beloved pets to be buried alongside pharaohs or nobility. Modern taxidermy, however, began in the 1400’s, and by the late 1700’s the British Museum held the world’s largest collection of preserved animals. The techniques used then are still widely used today, although the materials and chemicals involved have advanced, as has the taxidermists’ knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and ecology of the animals they are working with.

When we look at the history of the specimens in the Museum of Cornish Life, it is incredible that preservations created over one hundred years ago are still inspiring children today. Henry the Parrot, (who is actually a Galah!), possibly has the most interesting story; believed to have flown from the shipwrecked Socoa in 1906, Henry ended up at Mount Herman farm, where he lived until his natural death, and was preserved to keep alive the memory of his fascinating story. The stories of the other birds’ lives may be long forgotten, but in the form of taxidermy each of them lives on, helping towards our understanding of history, culture, and the natural world.

The museum holds an incredible amount of interesting historical artefacts, and for some time these taxidermy birds have been hidden amongst them – on display, but not taking centre stage. The exhibition by the year six pupils has highlighted these wonderful preservations of important bird species, some of which are in serious decline.

There is ongoing debate around whether taxidermy is an art or a science, but the Flying Free project is a great example of where the two can be combined to communicate ideas and share our understanding of the world around us.

Flying Free is on until 20th May 2023, and the museum is open and free to visit all year round.

Jennifer Carter (www.jennifer-carter.co.uk) CBWPS Field Officer and freelance wildlife journalist