Museum Commissions

Specimen Information

We are permitted to work on migratory birds under the 3-200-8 Migratory Bird Taxidermy permit. With this permit, we are able to temporarily possess specimens for taxidermy services. If you have a salvage and possession permit, please include a copy in your email for our records.

We are happy to work with institutions on bird and mammal specimens from your freezers. If you need a specific bird that you don't have, we can help with our specimen acquisition service for a small fee. For clients providing small birds (finch-size or smaller), we suggest sending at least two specimens, as it may take several tries to get the best results for your project.

For the best results, any specimens acquired should be in the freezer in a plastic bag. Any specimens found and collected legally should be placed in the freezer as soon as possible for the best results.

pose, Timeline & Pricing

Any specimen found dead and taken legally for a collection is considered a salvaged specimen, and may not have died in “perfect” condition, depending on the cause of death, molt condition, age, etc. Please let us know the desired pose, base and habitat, and we will do our best to match it. If there are any issues with the specimen that would limit our ability to execute the desired mount, we will reach out and discuss options.

Our general timeline for commissions is between 6 months - 1.5 years, depending on how complex the project is. Anything less than 6 months may not be achievable or require “rush” pricing. Once a project is discussed, we can give you an accurate timeline for project completion.

All commissions start at $1,600, but will depend on the desired species, pose, and base. Once a project is discussed, we will send an estimate. Our passion is working with educational facilities, so we will try our best to keep the costs as low as possible in order to achieve your goals for your collection.

Other Information

With a background in biology and education, we would love to share process photos and videos of the specimens on our social media and learning platforms. We will only post photos and videos with respect to the animal, the biological process, and the artistic outcome. Please let us know if you would not like us to share media of your project.

If you are outside of Southern California and need to ship frozen specimens, reach out with questions, and we will be happy to walk you through the process.

If you are within Southern California, we can schedule a drop-off and pick-up of specimens at our studio, or we can perform the pick-ups and drop-offs for a transportation fee.