Fishing Birds

About exhibition

The exhibition will show what perfect 'tools' evolution has produced for fishing – the kingfisher's harpoon-like bill and the gannet's massive scoop; the grasping feet and long legs of the heron; the keen eyes of the sea eagle, able to spot fish from many meters above, or the vertical pupils of some waterbirds, ideal for hunting at dusk. For the first time, more than 70 different species of birds whose lives are inseparably linked to fish-catching will come together under one roof. Visitors will learn about the unique techniques and hunting strategies of fish-eating birds and admire graphics and paintings by well-known animal painters V.A. Vatagin, A.N. Komarov, A.M. Belashov, M.M. Kukunov and V.M. Evstafyev. A mini-guide to the exhibition will be offered to visitors, as well as board and computer games about fishing birds. Exhibition visitors will be able to see items from the museum's collections, including natural science specimens, rare 19th-century ornithological books, and paintings and graphic works by famous Russian animal painters — all from the Darwin Museum's collection.