09/05/2026
From Executive Director Mandy Santiago:
Magical Moments at the Museum...Lead to A Remarkable Discovery!
When most people think of a museum, they might think of exhibits. But behind the scenes, museum collections serve another critical purpose: they are active research resources that help scientists better understand our natural world.
At the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, our Collections & Research Division houses more than 116,000 bird specimens and 37,000 egg clutches.
You might ask, why? Fair question. Allow us to explain!
These collections preserve invaluable records of biodiversity spanning generations, providing scientists with opportunities to ask new questions and make discoveries long after specimens were originally collected.
A powerful example comes from DelMNS Research Director and Curator, Dr. Matthew R. Halley. While examining a collection drawer of Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeons from the Philippines, he noticed one specimen that looked different from the others.
The bird had been collected more than 50 years ago on Tawi-Tawi Island by renowned Filipino ornithologist Dioscoro S. Rabor. That careful observation led to a remarkable discovery.
In a paper published in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Dr. Halley identified the specimen as the holotype of a previously unrecognized species: the Tawi-Tawi Imperial Pigeon (Ducula tawitawi). It is the first new living species of imperial pigeon described by science since 1928.
This discovery highlights an important truth: scientific breakthroughs do not always require new expeditions. Sometimes, they come from revisiting and studying the collections already entrusted to museums. Specimens preserved decades ago can reveal new species, deepen our understanding of evolution and biodiversity, and inform conservation efforts today.
The next time you visit a museum, remember that YOUR support and impact extends far beyond what you see on display. Behind every specimen is the potential for discovery, education, and a deeper understanding of the natural world. Thank you for making that experience possible.
https://delmns.org/2026/09/02/new-bird-species-discovered-in-collections-a-tawi-tawi-tale-of-mismatched-specimens/
The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science (DelMNS) houses an expansive bird collection in its Collections & Research Division, with over 116,000 bird
