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Mr Douglas Russell

Mr Douglas Russell

Senior Curator, Birds

Department: Life Sciences
Division: LS Vertebrates Division
Specialisms: Vertebrates, Birds
Team: Douglas Russell, Hendrik Van Grouw, Joanne Cooper, Judith White, Mark Adams Specialisms: eggs nests curation risotto
Contact: email

Summary

I am responsible for the curation of the national avian egg and nest collections as part of the team of bird group curators in the Department of Zoology at the Natural History Museum (NHM).

I am responsible for all aspects of curatorial care and access to the NHM collection of Bird's Eggs & Nests including, visitors, inquiries , documentation and research on the collections to enhance their data.

The NHM egg and nest collection is one of the largest resources of its kind in the world. Containing over 300,000 clutches the collection is regularly used by scientific researchers worldwide. The NHM Nest Collection contains over 4000 examples. This unique collection is an intimate record of behavior and increasingly recognized as an internationally important research resource on avian architecture, behavior and evolution .

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • Biological Sciences (Hons), Napier University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1990 - 1995

Employment history

    Academic

  • Senior Curator, Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, 2012 - ongoing
  • Curator, Natural History Museum, Life Sciences, United Kingdom, 2002 - 2012
  • Project Co-ordinator (Natural History), Wood End Museum, Department of Tourism & Leisure, United Kingdom, 1999 - 2001
  • Research Assistant, Natural History Museum, Departement of Zoology, United Kingdom, 1998 - 1999
  • Scientific Officer, Deer Commission for Scotland, United Kingdom, 1997 - 1997
  • Professional Assistant on Birds, Royal Museum of Scotland, Department of Geology & Zoology, United Kingdom, 1996 - 1997

Committees

Member, British Ornithologists' Club.,

Publications

Malhotra R (2021) Preserving pieces of history in eggshells and birds’ nests. Nature, 597 (7877) : 586 - 586. doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02529-z

Marini MÂ, Hall L, Bates J, Steinheimer FD, McGowan R, Silveira LF, Lijtmaer DA, Tubaro PL, Córdoba-Córdoba S, Gamauf A, Greeney HF, Schweizer M, Kamminga P, Cibois A, Vallotton L, Russell D, Robinson SK, Sweet PR, Frahnert S, Corado R, Heming NM (2020) The five million bird eggs in the world’s museum collections are an invaluable and underused resource. The Auk, 137 (4) : doi: 10.1093/auk/ukaa036

Birkhead T, Russell D, Garbout A, Attard M, Thompson J, Jackson D (2020) New insights from old eggs – the shape and thickness of Great AukPinguinus impenniseggs. Ibis, 162 (4) : 1345 - 1354. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12820

Adams M, Prys-Jones R, Russell D (2019) THEFT FROM THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM’S BIRD COLLECTION - WHAT CAN WE LEARN?. Alauda, 87 (3) : 73 - 82.

Russell D, Bernucci A, Scott-Murray A, Jackson D, Ahmed F, Garbout A, Birkhead T (null) All Our Eggs In One Basket: Challenges of High Resolution X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomography of Great Auk Pinguinus impennis Eggshell. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards, 2 : e25794 - e25794. doi: 10.3897/biss.2.25794

Heming NM, Gressler DT, Russell DGD, Marini MÂ (2016) Nest and Eggs of the Streamer-Tailed Tyrant (Gubernetes yetapa) from Brazil and Paraguay. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 128 (2) : 449 - 453. doi: 10.1676/1559-4491-128.2.449

Brulez K, Mikšík I, Cooney CR, Hauber ME, Lovell PG, Maurer G, Portugal SJ, Russell D, Reynolds SJ, Cassey P (2016) Eggshell pigment composition covaries with phylogeny but not with life history or with nesting ecology traits of British passerines. Ecology and Evolution, 6 (6) : 1637 - 1645. doi: 10.1002/ece3.1960

Carter H, Russell D, Sealy S (2015) Additional Notes on the Earliest Breeding Records of Black Oystercatcher and Pigeon Guillemot in British Columbia and Washington, 1792-1867. Wildlife Afield, 12 (2) : 196 - 213.

Maurer G, Portugal SJ, Hauber ME, Mikšík I, Russell DGD, Cassey P (2015) First light for avian embryos: eggshell thickness and pigmentation mediate variation in development and UV exposure in wild bird eggs. Functional Ecology, 29 (2) : 209 - 218. doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12314

Prys-Jones RP, Russell DGD, Wright S (2014) Rediscovery of the syntypes of California Quail Tetrao californicus Shaw, 1798, and comments on the current labelling of the holotype of California Condor Vultur californianus Shaw, 1797. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 134 : 286 - 290.

Russell DGD, Hansell M, Reilly M (2013) Bird Nests in Museum Collections: A Rich Resource for Research. Avian Biology Research, 6 (2) : 178 - 182. doi: 10.3184/175815513x13613786679359

RUSSELL D (2013) Dr George Murray Levick (1876-1956): unpublished notes on the sexual habits of the Adélie Penguin. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 133 : 2 - 3.

Russell DGD, Sladen WJL, Ainley DG (2012) Dr. George Murray Levick (1876–1956): unpublished notes on the sexual habits of the Adélie penguin. Polar Record, 48 (4) : 387 - 393. doi: 10.1017/s0032247412000216

RUSSELL D (2011) Con artist or unfairly maligned collector? - the rediscovery of William Farren's Black Woodpecker eggs from the New Forest. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 131 :

Maurer G, Russell DGD, Cassey P (2010) Interpreting the Lists and Equations of Egg Dimensions in Schönwetter'sHandbuch Der Oologie. The Auk, 127 (4) : 940 - 947. doi: 10.1525/auk.2010.09260

Maurer G, RUSSELL DGD, Woog F, Cassey P (2010) The eggs of the extinct Egyptian population of White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla.. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 130 : 208 - 214.

RUSSELL DGD, Hansell M, Reilly M (2010) Constructive behaviour: developing a UK nest collection resource. Bauernfeind E, Gamauf A, Berg HM, Muraoka Y (Eds). Conference Proceedings ‘5th International Meeting of European Bird Curators "Collections in Context". August 29th-31st 2007, Vienna, Austria., Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien : 77 - 96.

RUSSELL DGD, White J, Maurer G, Cassey P (2010) Data-poor egg collections: cracking an important research resource. Journal of Afrotropical Zoology - Special Issue, 77 - 82.

RUSSELL D (2009) The worst journey in the world: an ornithological tale of bravery and endurance. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 129 :

Duckworth JW, Inskipp TP, Pasquet E, Rasmussen PC, Rice NH, Robson CR, Russell DGD (2008) A re-evaluation of the status of Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax in South-East Asia. FORKTAIL, 127 - 129.

Russell D (2007) Twin chicks - Reply. NEW SCIENTIST, 195 (2617) : 65 - 65.

Cornish L, Ball A, Russell D (2007) Laser cleaning of avian eggshell. LASERS IN THE CONSERVATION OF ARTWORKS, PROCEEDINGS 116 : 169 - 176.

RUSSELL D (2007) Twin chicks. New Scientist, 195 :

RUSSELL DGD, Thomson KS (2007) On the trail of the Beagle budgie. Wingspan, 17 : 24 - 25.

WALTERS M, RUSSELL DGD, STEINHEIMER FD, Quaisser C (2007) The eggs of the Canarian (or Meade-Waldo’s) Black Oystercatcher Haematopus meadwaldoi. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 127 : 226 - 227.

RUSSELL D (2005) Hatching a plan: developing modern standards in egg collections. NatSCA News, 6 :

Wilson S, Russell D, Miller G, Carine M, Valentine C, Loader S, Woodburn M, Vincent S, Stevens L, Thompson K, Smith D, Price B, Heath T (null) Join the Dots: assessing 80 million items at the Natural History Museum, London. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards, 2 : e26500 - e26500. doi: 10.3897/biss.2.26500

Contributed Publications

Douglas R, Robert P-J, Mark A (2017) THEFT FROM THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM’S BIRD COLLECTION - WHAT CAN WE LEARN?. 10th International Meeting of European Bird Curators, 1710 10 - 17 10 10Alauda Museum National d'Histoire Springer Naturelle : France. 73 - 82.

Introduction

Summary

I am responsible for the curation of the national avian egg and nest collections as part of the team of bird group curators in the Department of Zoology at the Natural History Museum (NHM).

I am responsible for all aspects of curatorial care and access to the NHM collection of Bird's Eggs & Nests including, visitors, inquiries , documentation and research on the collections to enhance their data.

The NHM egg and nest collection is one of the largest resources of its kind in the world. Containing over 300,000 clutches the collection is regularly used by scientific researchers worldwide. The NHM Nest Collection contains over 4000 examples. This unique collection is an intimate record of behavior and increasingly recognized as an internationally important research resource on avian architecture, behavior and evolution .

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • Biological Sciences (Hons), Napier University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1990 - 1995

Employment history

    Academic

  • Senior Curator, Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, 2012 - ongoing
  • Curator, Natural History Museum, Life Sciences, United Kingdom, 2002 - 2012
  • Project Co-ordinator (Natural History), Wood End Museum, Department of Tourism & Leisure, United Kingdom, 1999 - 2001
  • Research Assistant, Natural History Museum, Departement of Zoology, United Kingdom, 1998 - 1999
  • Scientific Officer, Deer Commission for Scotland, United Kingdom, 1997 - 1997
  • Professional Assistant on Birds, Royal Museum of Scotland, Department of Geology & Zoology, United Kingdom, 1996 - 1997
Professional activities

Committees

Member, British Ornithologists' Club.,

Publications

Publications

Malhotra R (2021) Preserving pieces of history in eggshells and birds’ nests. Nature, 597 (7877) : 586 - 586. doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02529-z

Marini MÂ, Hall L, Bates J, Steinheimer FD, McGowan R, Silveira LF, Lijtmaer DA, Tubaro PL, Córdoba-Córdoba S, Gamauf A, Greeney HF, Schweizer M, Kamminga P, Cibois A, Vallotton L, Russell D, Robinson SK, Sweet PR, Frahnert S, Corado R, Heming NM (2020) The five million bird eggs in the world’s museum collections are an invaluable and underused resource. The Auk, 137 (4) : doi: 10.1093/auk/ukaa036

Birkhead T, Russell D, Garbout A, Attard M, Thompson J, Jackson D (2020) New insights from old eggs – the shape and thickness of Great AukPinguinus impenniseggs. Ibis, 162 (4) : 1345 - 1354. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12820

Adams M, Prys-Jones R, Russell D (2019) THEFT FROM THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM’S BIRD COLLECTION - WHAT CAN WE LEARN?. Alauda, 87 (3) : 73 - 82.

Russell D, Bernucci A, Scott-Murray A, Jackson D, Ahmed F, Garbout A, Birkhead T (null) All Our Eggs In One Basket: Challenges of High Resolution X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomography of Great Auk Pinguinus impennis Eggshell. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards, 2 : e25794 - e25794. doi: 10.3897/biss.2.25794

Heming NM, Gressler DT, Russell DGD, Marini MÂ (2016) Nest and Eggs of the Streamer-Tailed Tyrant (Gubernetes yetapa) from Brazil and Paraguay. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 128 (2) : 449 - 453. doi: 10.1676/1559-4491-128.2.449

Brulez K, Mikšík I, Cooney CR, Hauber ME, Lovell PG, Maurer G, Portugal SJ, Russell D, Reynolds SJ, Cassey P (2016) Eggshell pigment composition covaries with phylogeny but not with life history or with nesting ecology traits of British passerines. Ecology and Evolution, 6 (6) : 1637 - 1645. doi: 10.1002/ece3.1960

Carter H, Russell D, Sealy S (2015) Additional Notes on the Earliest Breeding Records of Black Oystercatcher and Pigeon Guillemot in British Columbia and Washington, 1792-1867. Wildlife Afield, 12 (2) : 196 - 213.

Maurer G, Portugal SJ, Hauber ME, Mikšík I, Russell DGD, Cassey P (2015) First light for avian embryos: eggshell thickness and pigmentation mediate variation in development and UV exposure in wild bird eggs. Functional Ecology, 29 (2) : 209 - 218. doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12314

Prys-Jones RP, Russell DGD, Wright S (2014) Rediscovery of the syntypes of California Quail Tetrao californicus Shaw, 1798, and comments on the current labelling of the holotype of California Condor Vultur californianus Shaw, 1797. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 134 : 286 - 290.

Russell DGD, Hansell M, Reilly M (2013) Bird Nests in Museum Collections: A Rich Resource for Research. Avian Biology Research, 6 (2) : 178 - 182. doi: 10.3184/175815513x13613786679359

RUSSELL D (2013) Dr George Murray Levick (1876-1956): unpublished notes on the sexual habits of the Adélie Penguin. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 133 : 2 - 3.

Russell DGD, Sladen WJL, Ainley DG (2012) Dr. George Murray Levick (1876–1956): unpublished notes on the sexual habits of the Adélie penguin. Polar Record, 48 (4) : 387 - 393. doi: 10.1017/s0032247412000216

RUSSELL D (2011) Con artist or unfairly maligned collector? - the rediscovery of William Farren's Black Woodpecker eggs from the New Forest. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 131 :

Maurer G, Russell DGD, Cassey P (2010) Interpreting the Lists and Equations of Egg Dimensions in Schönwetter'sHandbuch Der Oologie. The Auk, 127 (4) : 940 - 947. doi: 10.1525/auk.2010.09260

Maurer G, RUSSELL DGD, Woog F, Cassey P (2010) The eggs of the extinct Egyptian population of White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla.. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 130 : 208 - 214.

RUSSELL DGD, Hansell M, Reilly M (2010) Constructive behaviour: developing a UK nest collection resource. Bauernfeind E, Gamauf A, Berg HM, Muraoka Y (Eds). Conference Proceedings ‘5th International Meeting of European Bird Curators "Collections in Context". August 29th-31st 2007, Vienna, Austria., Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien : 77 - 96.

RUSSELL DGD, White J, Maurer G, Cassey P (2010) Data-poor egg collections: cracking an important research resource. Journal of Afrotropical Zoology - Special Issue, 77 - 82.

RUSSELL D (2009) The worst journey in the world: an ornithological tale of bravery and endurance. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 129 :

Duckworth JW, Inskipp TP, Pasquet E, Rasmussen PC, Rice NH, Robson CR, Russell DGD (2008) A re-evaluation of the status of Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax in South-East Asia. FORKTAIL, 127 - 129.

Russell D (2007) Twin chicks - Reply. NEW SCIENTIST, 195 (2617) : 65 - 65.

Cornish L, Ball A, Russell D (2007) Laser cleaning of avian eggshell. LASERS IN THE CONSERVATION OF ARTWORKS, PROCEEDINGS 116 : 169 - 176.

RUSSELL D (2007) Twin chicks. New Scientist, 195 :

RUSSELL DGD, Thomson KS (2007) On the trail of the Beagle budgie. Wingspan, 17 : 24 - 25.

WALTERS M, RUSSELL DGD, STEINHEIMER FD, Quaisser C (2007) The eggs of the Canarian (or Meade-Waldo’s) Black Oystercatcher Haematopus meadwaldoi. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 127 : 226 - 227.

RUSSELL D (2005) Hatching a plan: developing modern standards in egg collections. NatSCA News, 6 :

Wilson S, Russell D, Miller G, Carine M, Valentine C, Loader S, Woodburn M, Vincent S, Stevens L, Thompson K, Smith D, Price B, Heath T (null) Join the Dots: assessing 80 million items at the Natural History Museum, London. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards, 2 : e26500 - e26500. doi: 10.3897/biss.2.26500

Contributed Publications

Douglas R, Robert P-J, Mark A (2017) THEFT FROM THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM’S BIRD COLLECTION - WHAT CAN WE LEARN?. 10th International Meeting of European Bird Curators, 1710 10 - 17 10 10Alauda Museum National d'Histoire Springer Naturelle : France. 73 - 82.