I came home last night to find a dead bird laying in front of my door. Apparently, he flew into my window (I live on the 2nd floor), and that was the end of him. I killed him!

Am I supposed to call someone to come and take him away? Or do I just put him in the trash? I heard that we're not supposed to bury them in our yards... not that I have a yard anyways.

:hug: You didn't kill him! It was not your fault.

When I find little dead creatures, I usually place them under a bush somewhere, where their bodies can return to the earth. You could dig a shallow grave if you want.

Our cats brought home a bat the other day.. and eh, it was nature, so we let them do whatever they wanted with it. The bat was already dead.

You should put the bird in your freezer and contact your local Natural History Museum to see if they collect bird specimens. There is no pointing of wasting it by throwing it away when it can be utilized by a research institution.

I would leave it. Circle of life and all, something will get it.

I would leave it. Circle of life and all, something will get it.


It has more value in a research collection than being eaten by ants.

Not bury them in the yard? That's weird.

I tend to leave them where they are, and nature would take care of it. However, if I were to find a larger animal (dog, cat) or one that was clearly someone's pet (hamster, bird that's not normally in this area), I would make some calls about it. If the animal is in the path of a lot of movement, I'd try to move it to an area where it's body can 'get back to nature'.

You should put the bird in your freezer and contact your local Natural History Museum to see if they collect bird specimens. There is no pointing of wasting it by throwing it away when it can be utilized by a research institution.

A dead bird in MY freezer? Ewww!

Umm. . . why do some people treat all animals like products that must be used up.
I don't see how leaving a bird be is 'wasting' the bird, going by that logic, I guess my decomposed grandma and cousins were all 'wasted' too. Oh well, plenty of humans for science to get a hold of without my help, plenty of birds for 'Natural History Museum' to get a hold of w/o my help. Out of respect for that bird I'd leave his/her body in one piece and let life take its corse.

Umm. . . why do some people treat all animals like products that must be used up.
I don't see how leaving a bird be is 'wasting' the bird, going by that logic, I guess my decomposed grandma and cousins were all 'wasted' too. Oh well, plenty of humans for science to get a hold of without my help, plenty of birds for 'Natural History Museum' to get a hold of w/o my help. Out of respect for that bird I'd leave his/her body in one piece and let life take its course.

:yes:

It has more value in a research collection than being eaten by ants.

Why is that wasting it? Ants gotta eat like the rest of it.

I received a few responses let me try to respond to them all.

When you have a choice to A) give a dead bird to a museum or B) let the bird be eaten by ants, fungi, bacteria and the feathers blow away, I think the latter is a waste. It is not matter of using an animal as a product, it is a matter of putting something to use.

What can a museum do with a dead bird? It can be used in teaching instruction for any age level,it allows ppl to appreciate seeing an animal they never get to see up close. The bird's tissue could be helpful for molecular studies that could help give a better understanding of the species systematics, population genetics, phylogeography, etc.

If you don't value science, conservation, education than you might be adverse to my argument.

Somebody's dead cousin and grandmother has been used and will continue to be used by medical schools.

I doubt that museums want every dead bird that carks it out there. They'd definately want certain species, for sure. Most research facilities wouldn't make much use of a random dead bird, either. Can you clarify why a bird being eaten by the things living in my garden would be a "waste"? I guess by that logic I'm "wasting" my food whenever I eat it, too.

If it a museum actively collects birds they will take in all species.

Food is much more abundant than bird specimens. Lets take a carrot for instance, everyone has access to them, there is little genetic variability between carrots, and there are enough carrots to go around for research and snacks. No information is lost by eating a carrot but letting a bird rot information is lost. The logic your using is not the same as the logic I am using.

Well BVegan, how 'bout I call you to come get all my dead birds then. :p

Well BVegan, how 'bout I call you to come get all my dead birds then. :p


Sure thing, just remember to freeze them first.

There was a woman who kept her dead pets in her freezer. I think at one point, she had 5-6 birds and a few hamsters. I wonder what she was planning to do with them?

My sister recently found one of her turtles floating upside down in its tank. She claims that the larger turtle drowned it, but I don't think turtles are capable of being that malicious. I think?

I buried the bird. :yes: