Image Caption: Emu, Photography by Dean Batchelder,  Collection of the CT State Museum of Natural History.

May 26, 2026 – August 2, 2026

The Benton Museum of Art partners with the Connecticut Museum of Natural History to bring visitors face-to-face with a remarkable avian collection at UConn. Featuring more than 30 preserved specimens, the exhibition offers an intimate look at birds of prey, ducks, and other Aquatic Fowl, anchored by a striking emu specimen whose scale and presence challenge expectations of what a bird can be. Collected, donated, and acquired by the Connecticut Museum of Natural History, these carefully prepared examples of taxidermy reveal fine details of plumage, form, and proportion—features often difficult to observe in the wild.

Birds Up Close explores the history of early collecting practices and the role natural history collections have played in shaping scientific knowledge. Visitors are invited to consider how these specimens were gathered, studied, and preserved, and how museum practices have evolved over time. Bringing together nature, science, and specimens as works of art, the exhibition highlights the enduring value of avian collections in research, education, and public understanding today.