QVMAG releases new 3D natural sciences collection

It’s not often you can go behind the scenes of a museum collection—but the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery’s online 3D collection is now letting viewers do just that.

Launched in February 2024, this collection offers in-depth access to 3D renders and descriptions of objects from within the institution's collection spanning history, visual art and design, archives, and natural sciences.

The latest collection to released is set to take locals, classrooms and researchers from across the globe up close with the institution's ornithology collections—specifically, Tasmanian bird nests and study skins as well as an image of the eggs to complete the set.

QVMAG has a significant collection of 800 Tasmanian bird nests, representing 49 species of birds. Nests are not only exquisite examples of animal architecture but are another source of study of the birds that built them.

They are an indicator of breeding status and a record of species range. Nests may contain traces of their occupants and be a potential source of DNA and even contribute to studies on climate change. Bird study skins are the traditional form of specimen preparation that museums use for their research collections.

Unlike taxidermy mounts that are prepared in a life-like pose for display, study skins are prepared flat and compact so they take up the minimal amount of space when stored in collection drawers.

When correctly prepared and properly stored, study skins will last for hundreds of years.

Study skins are vital for research as they preserve all the external characteristics of an animal. Scientists can access study skins to note colour, take measurements and even to extract and analyse DNA.

Image: view of Bird Study Skins within the QVMAG Collection

The Queen Victoria Museum collection of bird study skins is considered the most extensive collection of Tasmanian bird species in the world. QVMAG Natural Sciences Collections Officer Simon Fearn said the QVMAG ornithology collection is an invaluable asset to Tasmania and researchers globally.

“The extraordinary efforts of former QVMAG Natural Sciences Curator, R. H. Green served to expand the collection such that it is considered the most extensive collection of Tasmanian bird species in the world,” Fearn said.

R. H. Green was also instrumental in acquiring the nest and egg collections of Singline and Leonard, adding further value to the ornithology collection.

“The vast majority of specimens within this collection are accompanied with full collection data, which makes this collection extremely valuable for research.

“The scientific significance of the QVMAG ornithology collections arises from significant spatial and temporal aspects represented in the collection, capturing large time series for many species across specific areas of north and north eastern Tasmania.

“The importance of the collection is further reinforced by its holdings of rare and extinct species as well as first records of previously unrecorded species that have reached Tasmania.

"The collection also eclipses many of the other museums around Australia with its holdings of locally endemic species and sub species, the significance of this is the ability of the collection to support taxonomic research at the subspecies level, and also support DNA sampling requests for endemic species and subspecies.”

Image: QVMAG Collections Database Administrator Haireena Ooi, and QVMAG Natural Sciences Collection Officers Simon Fearn and Judy Rainbird. 

When asked about the importance of digitising specimens such as this, Fearn said access to online collection databases greatly enhances the number of users that can access and research global collections.

“Examination of digital images greatly reduces searching and handling time by staff which in turn limits damage to specimens or exposure to unsuitable environmental conditions,” Fearn said.

“Digitisation of collections can also greatly reduce loan requests which are labour intensive and risk damage to or loss of specimens.

“In terms of the public, specimens that are unlikely to ever be publicly displayed can be readily accessed in digital form. Such access can educate the public about what QVMAG holds within its collection and the important role it plays both now and into the future.”

Image: view of Bird Study Skins within the QVMAG Collection. 

The development of the QVMAG 3D collection initiative has been achieved through the generous support of a private donation.

This donation has enabled the institution to procure high end microscopic 3D photography equipment, supporting the digitisation of the institutions vast and nationally significant natural sciences collection.

Through the capture of high quality three-dimensional digital images of specimens from within the institutions collection, QVMAG will continue to be placed at the forefront of specimen research and identification in Australia, while further enhancing collection records for global databases such as the QVMAG Collections Database, the Atlas of Living Australia, and more.

This donation has been pivotal in supporting online accessibility to the to the natural sciences collection of the Quen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery—Australia's largest regional museum.

The QVMAG 3D collection is accessible online via www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/Collections-Online

Issued 12 June 2024.