Birds are among the most prevalent subjects of taxidermy, and bird hunters are among the most frequent clients of taxidermists. Bird taxidermy is the art of preserving dead birds. And although it has been claimed by most professionals that this branch of taxidermy is easier than that of fish, great skill and patience are still required when mounting such beautiful flying creatures.
The beginnings of bird taxidermy are not clear, but apparently bird mounting started in Amsterdam during the early 1700s. In 1802, Louis Dufresce, who was a French taxidermist and ornithologist, became popular when he simplified the process of preserving birds with the use of arsenical soap. He was a custodian at the Musum National d’Histoire Naturelle and his simplified process of preserving birds made the museum the biggest collector of mounted birds in the world.
