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A Yorkshire laboratory is trying to find out where a rare parrot has come from 
If it was bred in captivity then thereâs no problem.
If it was illegally trafficked from a tropical rainforest, then the owner will be in *just a bit* of bother.
If it was bred in captivity then thereâs no problem.
If it was illegally trafficked from a tropical rainforest, then the owner will be in *just a bit* of bother.
Reader, this is a thread about why museums belong on CSI
(and how they are incredibly useful resources in real life ginuwine situations)
(and how they are incredibly useful resources in real life ginuwine situations)
Where a bird has lived is literally written in its feathers.
Guys buckle in weâre about to do science
Guys buckle in weâre about to do science
Isotopes are types of atoms that occur in different concentrations in different parts of the world.
If a bird has been living and eating in a particular place, the isotopes in its feathers will be the same as other birds from the same place.
The same goes for humans!
If a bird has been living and eating in a particular place, the isotopes in its feathers will be the same as other birds from the same place.
The same goes for humans!
Which means that our atoms are made up of Leeds and @Bundobust vada pavs, just like every other person living in this, the greatest city in the world
(Except in humans they usually use teeth to tell this, not feathers, because er we donât have them)
(Except in humans they usually use teeth to tell this, not feathers, because er we donât have them)
we checked this with @CuratorClare because it sounded too good to be true and omg
The lab called on us, their local 9 friendly museums and galleries, to help them out.
They asked us to compare the feathers of the rare parrot with feathers of birds from the tropics.
They asked us to compare the feathers of the rare parrot with feathers of birds from the tropics.
We have lots (and lots) of birds, collected over the last 200 years from all over the world, and now theyâre helping their living counterparts on the frontline of tackling wildlife crime 
@CuratorClare calls our specimens âlittle ambassadorsâ and we think thatâs lovely
and in conclusion
