Allen's Hummingbird, taxonomic name Selasphorus sasin

Loan Policy

Most specimens from the Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy are available for loan to reputable individuals from other recognized research institutions, museums, government agencies, and colleges. We do not loan research specimens as teaching material, and loans are not made to the general public. General inquiries about specimens in the collections can be made directly to the collections manager. Birds and mammals are perhaps the most protected and regulated groups of living organisms, which makes collecting additional specimens difficult or impossible. Added to this are state, federal, and international laws governing ownership, transfer, and disposition of research material, which place more restrictions on the collection and use of our specimens. Because we adhere to such laws and fully realize the intrinsic scientific value and unique importance of every specimen in our care, all loans of specimens must be consistent with our loan policy. Failure to comply with our loan policy may result in loss of loan privileges.

Department Visits

Terms of Use

These databases and all images within them are owned and copyrighted by the California Academy of Sciences, ©2009, or licensed to it.  The data and images may be used freely by individuals and organizations for purposes of basic research, education and conservation.  These data and images may not be used for commercial or for-profit purposes without the express written consent of the California Academy of Sciences, and may not be repackaged, resold, or redistributed in any form.

Use of the data or images in publications, dissertations and theses, or other scientific reports, should be accompanied by an acknowledgement of the Department of Ornithology & Mammalogy, California Academy of Sciences, as the source for the information.  Please provide the Department with separates of articles resulting from the use of these data or images.  This helps us to document the use of specimens as “vouchers” in the literature.  It also helps us to justify continued funding for the collections so that these resources remain available into the future.

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Contact the Collections Manager

For inquiries please contact:

  • Maureen Flannery (Moe)
  • Collections Manager
  • California Academy of Sciences
  • 55 Music Concourse Drive
  • San Francisco, CA 94118
  • 415-379-5371 (direct)

Beached Beaked Whale

Academy scientists studied the rare beaked whale that washed up on Ocean Beach in July 2003.

Types of Preparation

We prepare our collections in three ways:  wet/fluid, skins, and skeletal.