The Mystery of Eggs

Egg collecting was once a common practice for both scientific research and as a hobby. The Mackie family carefully preserved the collection for decades. Now, this collection of 36 cabinets and drawers is being donated to the Natural History Museum.

Learning About Eggs

How much do you know about eggs? This collection was created by naturalist Robert Henry Reid in the 19th century. Egg collecting was a popular activity in Northern Ireland before it was made illegal in 1985.

The Story of Eggs

The eggs in the collection come from all around the world and are of various shapes and sizes. Some are really old. Five snow-white goose eggs date back to June 1909, and a Eurasian eagle owl egg dates back to 1891.

The Mackie Family's Collection

The Mackie family loved their collection. When Castle Espie became a conservation center, they took the collection with them. The family kept the collection safe on the top floor for 50 years. Now, the collection will become part of the Natural History Museum's Bird Collection.

Natural History Museum

The family realized how important the collection was when the Natural History Museum team called it 'the best collection in the last 100 years.' The museum's senior curator, Douglas Russell, says the collection is 'a moment in time frozen.' 'All the nests were collected and essentially frozen... This is a time travel system, and that's what's exciting about this collection.'

The Future

Russell hopes that the detailed notes and specimens will create a rich record of historic birds and their environments. The collection will help children and adults learn more about birds and nature. This collection is an important step in protecting nature and preserving future bird generations.

Conclusion

The amazing egg collection is ready to be discovered by children and adults at its new home, the Natural History Museum. This collection will help us learn more about nature and birds and will be an important step in preserving future bird generations.