Museum Commissions

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.

For clients providing small birds (finch-size or smaller), we suggest sending us 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 (within a few hours). We have worked on birds that have been frozen since the 1970s, so your specimens can be in the freezer for any number of years after frozen and still be viable.

Legalities in California: Under California law, we cannot buy or sell native bird or native mammal specimens or their parts. However, we are able to provide taxidermy and restoration services for specimens already in your possession with the appropriate documentation and permits. If you have any questions regarding legality or required paperwork, please do not hesitate to reach out.

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 new taxidermy 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. Please reach out via email for our pricing on other services, such as restoration and educational programs. Our passion is working with educational facilities, so we will try our best to keep the prices as low as possible to achieve your goals for your collection if you are working with a small budget.

We would love to share process photos and videos of the specimens on our social media and learning platforms to educate other taxidermists, artists, and the public. 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.

Paloma Strong, the owner and head taxidermist of Strong Taxidermy, has been a museum taxidermist for ten years and has worked on pieces that are in museums across the world. Her training is rooted in creating archival taxidermy that will last beyond our lifetime - the work is sturdy, well-informed, and biologically accurate.

In addition to her decade of experience working on a range of projects and species, she has a degree in biology from Occidental College, where she focused on ornithological studies with the Moore Lab of Zoology. She has a close affiliation with multiple bird labs across California and continues to collaborate with biologists on projects.

I do require that all clients sign a Service Agreement before work begins. Please take a moment to review my Service Agreement here.

While it contains a fair amount of information and legal language, the agreement is designed to ensure clear communication regarding project scope, pricing adjustments, timelines, and the unique nature of taxidermy work. Many of these terms are included to protect both the client and Strong Taxidermy in unlikely worst-case scenarios. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!