Rare bird finds a roost in Gatineau after long, mysterious journey

A rare bird’s mysterious journey has captivated the staff at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. The taxidermied red bird-of-paradise, originally from New Guinea, somehow found its way from a dumpster in northern Ontario to the museum’s collection.
Gregory Rand, the museum’s collections manager for birds and mammals, was intrigued when he received a tip about an old display case found in Elliot Lake, a city between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. The case contained a Canadian shrike, but in the background, Rand noticed the vibrant red bird of paradise, a species not native to northern Ontario.
The bird, with its black head, burnt-yellow neck, and distinctive tail streamers, is believed to have been taxidermied in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Despite its faded appearance from years of sunlight exposure, the specimen is a rare find.
The mystery of how the bird ended up in a dumpster in Elliot Lake remains unsolved. Rand speculates that it may have been passed down through generations or discovered in an attic before being discarded.
Now part of the museum’s collection, the red bird of paradise could be used for educational and research purposes. The museum’s Gatineau research facility will be open to the public during its annual open house on Oct. 18, giving visitors a chance to see this unique specimen up close.
This unusual discovery adds to the museum’s diverse collection of artifacts and specimens. Other local museums in Ottawa have shared quirky items from their collections, ranging from wax fruit replicas to Roman coins. The red bird of paradise’s unexpected journey serves as a reminder of the mysteries waiting to be uncovered in museum archives.