This collection features articles and images on two Smithsonian experts, Carla Dove and Chris Crowe, who will be speaking at the Smithsonian Associates' Ripley Center on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. For more information and to buy tickets online, go to: http://bit.ly/2AMP8Ae.


Carla Dove is a forensic ornithologist at the Natural History Museum who focuses on snarge, which is the remains of dead birds. She will be speaking about her unusual job, and describing some of her more uncommon discoveries and the difficulties in identifying them.


While working as a bird keeper at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Chris Crowe met Walnut, an aggressive white-naped female crane who responded violently to potential mates. Walnut took an instant liking to Crowe, and the two have been great friends ever since.