National Museum of Natural History

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July @NMNH
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In the Museum
In the Garden
Once There Were Billions: Vanished Birds of North America
On view to October 2015
Once an amazing abundance and diversity of birds inhabited the forests and plains of North America … until humans altered habitats, over-hunted, and introduced predators. This exhibit marks an extinction that occurred 100 years ago, with the death of Martha the Passenger Pigeon, the last member of a species that once filled America’s skies.

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The Lost Bird Project
On view through March 15, 2015
Five large-scale bronze sculptures of extinct North American birds by artist Todd McGrain are now on display in Smithsonian Gardens. The Passenger Pigeon bronze has landed in the Urban Bird Habitat Garden at the National Museum of Natural History as a companion piece to Once There Were Billions: Vanished Birds of North America.

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Research

These fossil skulls, representing pre-erectus Homo and Homo erectus, exhibit diverse traits and indicate that the early diversification
of the human genus was a period of morphological experimentation. (Photos: Kenyan fossil casts Chip Clark, Smithsonian
Human Origins Program; Dmanisi Skull 5 Guram, Bumbiashvili, Georgian National Museum)
Human Evolution Rewritten: We Owe Our Existence to Our Ancestors’ Flexible Response to Climate Change Meet Ornithologist and Curator of Birds, Helen James
A paper published July 3 in Science outlines a new theory that the traits that have allowed humans to adapt and thrive in varying climate conditions evolved in Africa in a piecemeal fashion and at separate times. A team of researchers, including Smithsonian paleoanthropologist Dr. Richard Potts, analyzed new climate and fossil evidence to arrive at their conclusions.

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Dr. Helen James, Curator-in-Charge of the Museum’s Division of Birds, studies bird fossils on Hawaii and other Pacific islands to help us learn about the past--including how humans might have caused the extinction of certain species.

View video >

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MORE RESEARCH >
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Origami folded Passenger Pigeons. Image from foldtheflock.org.
Fold the Flock in Q?rius National Moth Week: July 19-27
To help remember the Passenger Pigeon, every weekend this summer we are folding origami pigeons to symbolically recreate the great flocks of 100 years ago. Participants fold origami Passenger Pigeons and are encouraged to add their birds to an ever-growing virtual flock. Join us to fold in the Q?rius Loft, or fold from your home!

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Visit the Live Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Zoo to celebrate National Moth Week and learn about these diverse and stunning organisms. There are more than 150,000 species of moths in the world! Stop by the Collection Zone in Q?rius to see a sampling of specimens.

In Q?rius on Saturday, July 19, explore moth adaptations with entomologist and moth expert, Dr. David Adamski.

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July events in Q?rius >
MORE EVENTS >
Educational Programs

Students ask questions during a live Smithsonian Science How? webcast. Smithsonian photo by Wei Qian.
Smithsonian Science How? Live Webcasts Download the Q?rius Teachers’ Guide
Smithsonian Science How? delivers real-world science into classrooms and other learning environments through free, interactive, live webcasts, and supporting resources.

The Fall/Winter 2014 webcast schedule is now available.

See the full schedule and view videos of archived webcasts >
Start planning your fall field trip to the National Museum of Natural History! Free school programs will be offered weekday mornings for grades 6-12 in Q?rius, and for grades K-6 in Q?rius jr.: a discovery room. Educator-led and facilitated programs aligned to national standards will be offered, with topics ranging from anthropology to biology to geology. Registration begins in August.

Download the Q?rius Teachers’ Guide >
MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS >
Get Involved
Get Involved in June
Volunteers in the Live Butterfly Pavilion.
Become a Natural History Museum Volunteer Support the Museum: Text DINO to Donate
Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page to learn about volunteering in Q?rius, Q?rius jr., the Insect Zoo and the Live Butterfly Pavilion.

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New! Text DINO to 202-22 on your smartphone to donate $10 to the Museum. Your donation helps provide free educational programs and exhibitions and contributes to research around the world.

Donate online >
MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED >

BANNER IMAGE:
Signature image from the Smithsonian Libraries exhibit, Once There Were Billions: Vanished Birds of North America. Illustrations of the Great Auk, Carolina Parakeet, Heath Hen and Passenger Pigeon are from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
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