Hummingbird (Family Trochilidae) Research
Welfare-conscious Study Techniques for Live Hummingbirds and Processing of Hummingbird Specimens
Description:... Research on hummingbirds over the decades has provided insights into their evolution, migration, physiology, and numerous other areas, including conservation biology. Their small size, energy demands, and high metabolic rates are some of the challenges researchers face when obtaining research samples and biologic materials from live hummingbirds. This manuscript summarizes the established literature dealing with basic methods that scientists have used when capturing, handling, and otherwise researching hummingbirds. Based on the authors' experience, best practices for working with live hummingbirds are presented, including permitting requirements for studying live hummingbirds, trapping and marking, handling techniques, safe collection of tissue samples, first-aid measures, and euthanasia of hummingbirds, as well as processing of hummingbird specimens (e.g., necropsy and preservation).
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