Heineanum Museum
The Heineanum Museum is a natural history museum in Halberstadt that has been devoted to ornithology in its 175-year history (as of 2014) . It owns and maintains collections with over 34,320 exhibits, as well as a natural history specialist library with around 21,900 volumes. It conducts active public relations, e.g. B. through regular lectures and own publications . The Heineanum is involved in research projects, supports species protection and is the place of work for the Voluntary Ecological Year ( FÖJ ). It is housed in a side wing of the former Spiegel Curia at Domplatz 36 in Halberstadt (→ Dompropstei Halberstadt # environment ).
history
The founder of the museum was the Halberstadt chief bailiff and landowner Ferdinand Heine senior (1809-1894). Already in his youth he began with the bird collection, which in the middle of the 19th century was one of the largest private collections in Europe. It was named Museum Heineanum with the publication of the first volume of the catalog, which appeared in five parts from 1850 to 1863 and which Jean Louis Cabanis and Heine's eldest son Ferdinand junior (1840–1920) edited. This detailed catalog was not completed, but a more economical listing of all 12,000 bird preparations was made in a second catalog ("Nomenclator") published in 1890, which was published by Anton Reichenow and Ferdinand Heine junior.
Collections
Ferdinand Heine Sr.'s historical bird collection forms the basis of which there are still around 11,500 specimens (mainly bellows ). Its particular value lies in its biodiversity: over half of the 9,000 bird species in the world are represented. The portfolio contains also ten heads of seven extinct species ( Labrador duck , passenger pigeon , Carolina Parakeet , Norfolk Kaka , ivory and imperial woodpecker , Lappenhopf ), a number of very rare species such as Eskimo and slender-billed curlew , owl parrot and snoring Rail and the extensive Hummingbird - Collection with over 2,000 pieces. Also noteworthy are numerous types , these are unique preparations after which new bird forms were described and named. They are published in a special volume of the "Treatises and Reports from the Museum Heineanum".
Collection holdings (zoological preparations)
in the Museum Heineanum, as of December 2014
Subject group A: Birds: bellows, assembled pieces, 18,850 pieces
Subject group B: Birds: plucking, 2,000 pieces of collected plumage
remains (prey from birds of prey) and plucked feathers from dead finds that are not suitable for the preparation of the follicles Subject group
C: Birds: skeletons, 2,900 pieces, in the Heineanum Prepared evidence from the mid-
1970s (mainly partial skeletons in the preparation of the bellows, see A)
Category D: birds: clutch, 7,200 clutches [> 35,000 eggs] of approx. 530 species
Category E: nests, 120 items
Category F: mammals: bellows, 1,750 pieces, faunistic specimens from the region, in particular bats
and other small mammals,
category G: Mammals: skeletons / skulls, 1,850 pieces, faunistic specimens from the region, in particular
bats and other small mammals
Library
The library (around 21,900 volumes) was founded by Ferdinand Heine at the same time as the bird collection.
Exhibitions
These permanent exhibitions are shown:
- Birds of the World: This exhibition provides an overview of the variety of shapes and colors of birds: 286 specimens from hummingbirds to ostriches, including extinct species (Heine Collection), are shown.
- World of birds: Here you will find everything about biology, from the feather to plumage care, breeding biology, nutrition, sensory organs, bird flight, bird migration, distribution to the diverse relationships between birds and humans.
- Birds of the Harz Mountains and its foreland: The local bird life is discussed here: Over 160 native bird species are assigned to their typical habitats; chants and voices are available for everyone.
- Fascination Bird World - AGENDA Systematics 2000: Under the title “Fascination Nature - Agenda Systematics 2000”, the natural history museums in Saxony-Anhalt participate with exhibition projects in global efforts to preserve the dwindling biodiversity on earth. The Heineanum deals with the origin and endangerment of the diversity of the bird world, including rare original specimens (emperor woodpecker, Mauritius falcon , red kite eyrie, tree cave with swift).
- Halberstadt dinosaur: Two valuable skeletons are mounted here: a plateosaur (approx. 220 million years old) and a plesiosaur (approx. 190 million years old), both of which were found around 1900 in clay pits in the city.
Special exhibitions
- Bird of the year : This regular special exhibition is always dedicated to the bird of the year destined for Germany.
- from 2003 every two years “Modern Bird Pictures” (MoVo).
Library
The natural history specialist library is currently the most important ornithological library in Saxony-Anhalt with around 21,900 volumes. The basis is made up of over 700 volumes in the Heine library from before 1909, including some magnificent historical works as well as the two oldest still existing ornithological journals in the world: “Journal für Ornithologie” (since 1853) and “Ibis” (since 1858). In addition to the purchase (mainly through the funds of the Förderkreis), donations by the members of the Förderkreis and the exchange of documents with their own magazines (currently 180 exchange partners in 26 countries) ensure enormous access to around 500 volumes per year.
As a scientific reference library, it can be used by third parties after registering in the museum.
"Silver Eagle Owl" / MoVo
Since 2003, the exhibition "Modern Bird Painters" (MoVo), which is linked to a competition, has taken place every two years and is enjoying growing popularity. This competition, which is unique in Germany, continues to be advertised every two years (“German Prize for Bird Painters”) and is endowed with € 1000 and a “Silver Eagle Owl” pin. The choice is made by a jury.
The pictures will be presented in the neighboring municipal museum, with visitors being able to vote for the audience award.
An attractive catalog appears for every exhibition , in which all accepted and exhibiting artists are represented with one of their works.
Publications
Annual ornithological reports
The ornithological annual reports of the Museum Heineanum are the specific, in-house publication series of the Heineanum. It appears annually with a booklet and is open to original works from all areas of ornithology. Preference will be given to work that was created in or with the support of the institution or that relates to the museum's collection material. 32 volumes have appeared so far.
Treatises and reports
The treatises and reports from the Museum Heineanum appear in an informal sequence (if possible once every two years) and are open to general and special natural history works, in particular relating to flora and fauna in the region. So far, seven regular and six special volumes have been published that are published by the sponsorship group.
Special publications (selection)
“Halberstädter Saurier”, booklet accompanying the exhibition of the same name, Halberstadt 1991
“Museum Heineanum - History and Meaning”, Halberstadt 1994
“Museum Heineanum - History and Meaning” (2nd expanded and updated edition), Halberstadt 2009
exhibition catalogs for all MoVo exhibitions
Researches
Scientific collections, catalogs and the library are the basis for a wide range of systematic research. Ferdinand Heine jun. described new bird shapes, whose templates (specimens) represent unique collection items as so-called type specimens . Bellows, skeletons and eggs / clutches have often been used for morphological investigations (diploma theses, dissertations). When preparing new items, the causes of death are examined. The following research projects are also carried out, organized or supported by the museum or its employees:
1. Recording of the birds of prey in the open landscape (especially red kite)
2. Biology / ecology of the wryneck (ringing program)
3. Investigation of the morphology, biology and ecology of the black redstart
4 Ecology of tree-breeding swifts
5. Mapping of breeding birds in the northern Harz region and foreland (projects on the breeding bird atlas)
6. Collection of avifaunistic observation data.
Support group for ornithology and nature conservation at the Museum Heineanum e. V.
The unique Heineanum Museum with its valuable collections, its importance and charisma needs every conceivable support under the current complicated conditions. The support group for ornithology and nature conservation at the Museum Heineanum e. V. is an essential step on this path! According to the statutes, the purpose of the recognized nature conservation association is to promote nature conservation under the nature conservation-relevant basic research, which has a long tradition at the Museum Heineanum.
literature
- Bernd Nicolai, Renate Neuhaus, Rüdiger Holz: Museum Heineanum, history and meaning . Halberstadt 1994.
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 53 '47.4 " N , 11 ° 2' 54.4" E