Learning taxidermy skills

The Field Biology Course offered at Lake Park Audubon High School is an elective class for juniors and seniors who are interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of Minnesota.  Science teacher Shelly Becker designed the class to cover a wide variety of biology topics including botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mammalogy (mammals), ichthyology (fish), ecology, and population studies. But from Thanksgiving until the Christmas holiday break, Lake Park Audubon Field Biology student are very busy with another unique unit. For the past seven years, students enrolled in Field Biology have had a unit on taxidermy. During this unit the students are all responsible for stuffing and mounting a bird of their choosing. The birds come from a variety of sources. Some of the students are avid hunters and bring in a pheasant or duck that they procured themselves. Other times, domestic chickens and ducks have been brought in by farmers in the class. 
The class has even received owls and hawks to taxidermy from the Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji. Regardless of the type of bird, the students learn the process of taxidermy by going through the steps themselves. The process is quite extensive, and throughout the three week period many of the students come to appreciate why the cost of professional taxidermy is quite high.  The students learn about bird anatomy, tanning, sewing and even painting to put finishing touches on feet and beaks. Because the unit finishes right before the Christmas holiday, many of the birds find their way under Christmas trees as presents for parent, friends, and relatives. This unit is challenging, messy and even a little smelly but the students learn a lot in the process.  So, as long as the students, and custodians, are willing to help, Becker is happy to continue this Lake Park Audubon taxidermy tradition. Tweets by @DLNewspapersThe Field Biology Course offered at Lake Park Audubon High School is an elective class for juniors and seniors who are interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of Minnesota. Science teacher Shelly Becker designed the class to cover a wide variety of biology topics including botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mammalogy (mammals), ichthyology (fish), ecology, and population studies. But from Thanksgiving until the Christmas holiday break, Lake Park Audubon Field Biology student are very busy with another unique unit.For the past seven years, students enrolled in Field Biology have had a unit on taxidermy. During this unit the students are all responsible for stuffing and mounting a bird of their choosing.The birds come from a variety of sources. Some of the students are avid hunters and bring in a pheasant or duck that they procured themselves. Other times, domestic chickens and ducks have been brought in by farmers in the class. 
The class has even received owls and hawks to taxidermy from the Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji. Regardless of the type of bird, the students learn the process of taxidermy by going through the steps themselves.The process is quite extensive, and throughout the three week period many of the students come to appreciate why the cost of professional taxidermy is quite high.  The students learn about bird anatomy, tanning, sewing and even painting to put finishing touches on feet and beaks. Because the unit finishes right before the Christmas holiday, many of the birds find their way under Christmas trees as presents for parent, friends, and relatives.This unit is challenging, messy and even a little smelly but the students learn a lot in the process.  So, as long as the students, and custodians, are willing to help, Becker is happy to continue this Lake Park Audubon taxidermy tradition.Tweets by @DLNewspapers