A non-profit natural history collection, research and education institution. Specializing in eggs and dedicated to bird conservation.
The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation, is both a natural history collection specializing in eggs and nests of birds from around the world, and a research and education institution dedicated to bird conservation.
The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation, is both a natural history collection specializing in eggs and nests of birds from around the world, and a research and education institution dedicated to bird conservation. The Foundation's collections are among the largest in the world, and its mission is to contribute to the conservation of the world’s wild bird species through the accessibility of the collections and their data to researchers, educators, students, and the public. The WFVZ also contributes to bird conservation through bird education programs for scientific professionals and the public, and field- and collections-based bird conservation research projects and publications.
The WFVZ is not open to the public except by prior appointment. Staff of the WFVZ conduct public tours of the large collection of bird eggs, nests, and mounted specimens on the last Friday of every month at 3 p.m. (except May, November, and December). Please call at least one day in advance to get on the waiting list (each tour is for a maximum of 20 people). Our fee for tours is $5 per person (WFVZ members free).
