natural history collection.

Nadia Aguiar found the body of a young Greater Shearwater on Great Bay Beach in June.

And she had the foresight to take the bird to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo so scientists there could add it to the museum's extensive natural history collection.

Collections officer at the Natural History Museum, Mrs. Lisa Greene said: "Our goal with the collection of bird skins, skeletons and eggs is to have one of each bird that occurs naturally in Bermuda, as a record of that bird having been on the Island.

"We don't go out and collect birds. We rely on members of the public to bring us specimens that they find and we've been extremely fortunate with what the public have brought us.

"It is not unusual for someone to call and say they have a heron, longtail or some other bird. We accept all birds, even common species like sparrows and starlings.'' With a selection of each kind of bird, scientists can then work on different sexes and ages of the species.

The collection consists not only of birds but rats, bats and other animals found on the Island.

Mrs. Greene said: "We never know when something unusual will come in. Not long ago we had a bird at first identified as a gannet that, in fact, turned out to be an Arctic loon -- the first ever recorded in Bermuda.'' The ultimate aim is to produce a total natural history collection of the Island.

Each specimen is taken to the Aquarium and stuffed by taxidermist Mrs. Shirley Tuzo. During her hours of work on each bird, Mrs. Tuzo can check on how a bird died, its last meal and its age.

Brave Nadia insisted on taking a couple of friends to watch her find being gutted and stuffed.

Mrs. Greene said: "If a member of the public finds a dead bird that is not too decayed they should put it into a plastic bag, getting as much air out of the bag as possible.

"Then put it into another bag with a label of some sort. Then the bird should be put into the freezer until it can be gotten to the Natural History Museum at the Aquarium.'' NATURAL HISTORY -- Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo taxidermist Mrs. Shirley Tuzo shows Nadia Aguiar an example of a Greater Shearwater yesterday.