The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation. It 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 researching and teaching about bird conservation. The Foundation's collections are among the largest in the world, and its mission is:
“To contribute to the study, knowledge, and conservation of the world’s wild bird species through biodiversity activities involving our bird collections, education programs, research projects, and publications.”
The collections and their data are invaluable to researchers and educators, as well as to 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 research projects and publications. Check our databases online here. The WFVZ has contributed information to thousands of research projects since our inception in 1956. The Foundation’s materials play key roles in understanding diverse topics such as avian systematics and evolution; the effects of environmental contamination; and changes in bird numbers, distributions, and habitat use.
Read about our History
