Taxidermy Gyrfalcon

This taxidermy Gyrfalcon was found in the storerooms of Doncaster Museum, and no record of it could be found within their systems. Therefore, several aspects of the objects’ history are unknown, and investigation was required to gain best estimates in these regards.

A Gyrfalcon is a bird of prey, the largest of all falcon species, and live mainly in the arctic tundra. However, during winter they will spread further south to areas of North America, Europe and Asia.

Due to their large size, Gyrfalcon are able to prey on many other birds, even including other birds of prey. They can also hunt mammals as large as hares.

Based on the size and style of colouration, this specimen is most likely to be a female – with female Gyrfalcon on average being larger than the males.

This object was tested for the presence of arsenic, a toxic chemical that was often used in the past for preserving taxidermy specimens. The tests showed that arsenic was present, which required taking special measures when treating the object to ensure the safety of the conservator and everyone around.

Despite the danger, this did provide useful information around the aging of the object – arsenic was not used for taxidermy past 1980 so this object was created before then. Paired with identification of an acrylic eye (first developed in the 1940s) the date of production is assumed to be between 1940-1980.

When the falcon arrived for treatment, the largest issue was with the tail; insects had eaten away part of the object, causing the tail to fall loosely. Damage from insects also spread to some feathers which had been nibbled at.

The whole object was covered with a layer of dust, and many of the feathers had been displaced, pointing in unnatural angles.

To treat the falcon, first a protective tent had to be constructed to prevent any arsenic dust from being blown around the lab, contaminating other objects or conservators. This sealed the object in from all sides when not in use, but could be opened from the top and front, allowing an extraction fan to pull in harmful dust while the conservation work was being carried out.

A reinforcing metal rod was inserted through a hole near the top of the tail, anchoring onto the existing metal skeleton and stuffing, and allowed the tail to rest on top at the correct angle. The fanning of the tail feathers allowed the rod to remain out of sight.

Each feather was then individually cleaned of dust and moved back into their correct place. Gaps caused by insect damage were covered with loose feathers, so they were not visible.

The decorative base was missing a few areas of paint, so a variety of colours were tested to find ones that matched the original colours the closest and applied to the areas of loss to restore the appearance. The moss had also become loose over time, so was re-adhered to keep it secure on the base.