Main objects

According to the size and significance of the scientific collection, comprehensive curatorial work, documentation and exploitation have to be done year-round (inventory, revision, securing historical data, digitizing new acquisitions).

Further expansion of the collection is one of the main long-term objectives. Besides, answering scientific and popular scientific inquiries, supporting visitors from all over the world who come to work in the collection, and arranging loans of collection material are the most common curatorial tasks. Furthermore, the exhibition halls have to be permanently adapted. The ornithological library is the largest in Austria and one of the largest in Europe and therefore frequently used by scientists, students and other visitors.

Main objectives of our scientific work

dealing with various questions of bird systematics, taxonomy, eco-morphology, behavioral ecology, avifaunistic etc.
supervision of students (PhD, Master)
fundraising for projects
updating the type catalogue
conservation-related tasks (e.g., expertise, consulting, projects, reports)

Color illustration of a hummingbird with outstretched wings on a beige background, black printed text above about the type catalog of the bird collection, part Non-Passeriformes. (AI-generated alt-text, generated with GPT-4.1-mini)

Cover of the Type Catalogue (Part 1, 2007) oft he NHMW Bird Collection

Illustration of a brightly colored bird with a curved beak on a rock with grass, red heading above and conference details below. (AI-generated alt-text, generated with GPT-4.1-mini)

Poster of the '5th International Meeting of Bird Curators' at the NHMW, August 2007

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