Mr Douglas Russell

I began my curatorial career at the NHM in 1998 and joined the Bird Group in 2002, initially caring for the wet preserved anatomical collections, egg and nests. Since 2012, I have been the Senior Curator responsible for the internationally renowned birds' egg and nest collections 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. I am expert in the study of avian eggs & nests, with a detailed taxonomic knowledge of birds and museology as it relates to the preservation and care of historical collections. I have an overarching knowledge of the NHM ornithology collection and am solely responsible for the collections ongoing development.

I am currently actively involved in the development of new methods to digitize our collection, including the use of AI. The NHM egg and nest collection is one of the largest and most actively research resources of its kind in the world. Containing around 300,000 clutches of eggs nearly 5000 nests, this unique collection is an internationally important primary source data on the breeding ecology, behavior and evolution.

I write, edit and review professional and popular articles on birds and the collection and have an in depth knowledge of NHM collections policies, and procedures. I recently authored the 2024 Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Bird Nests and Eggs (Penguin Random House).