![Sooty Birds Share Dirt on Air Pollution [60 Second Specimens] @thebrainscoop](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C8QYVny_j88/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded August 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Every specimen has a story; these dirty birds helped scientists answer questions about levels of air pollution in the United States over a period of 135 years.
More 60 Second Specimen stories:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL8_5VpX9Txpke4mWgBrsHVgNLeunW-XY
Sources/Articles:
Bird specimens track 135 years of atmospheric black carbon and environmental policy: pnas.org/content/early/2017/10/04/1710239114
The Dirty Secrets Saved in Dead Birds' Feathers -- New York Times nytimes.com/2017/10/10/science/birds-air-pollution.html
'Sooty birds' reveal hidden US air pollution -- BBC bbc.com/news/science-environment-41557157
Dirty birds show just how catastrophic air pollution used to be -- Washington Post https://wapo.st/2MFIYHZ
Thanks to Ben Marks and Shane DuBay for their help with this video!
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Created by:
Emily Graslie -- Brandon Brungard -- Sheheryar Ahsan
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This episode is filmed at and supported by The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.
fieldmuseum.org
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Every specimen has a story; these dirty birds helped scientists answer questions about levels of air pollution in the United States over a period of 135 years.
More 60 Second Specimen stories:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL8_5VpX9Txpke4mWgBrsHVgNLeunW-XY
Sources/Articles:
Bird specimens track 135 years of atmospheric black carbon and environmental policy: pnas.org/content/early/2017/10/04/1710239114
The Dirty Secrets Saved in Dead Birds' Feathers -- New York Times nytimes.com/2017/10/10/science/birds-air-pollution.html
'Sooty birds' reveal hidden US air pollution -- BBC bbc.com/news/science-environment-41557157
Dirty birds show just how catastrophic air pollution used to be -- Washington Post https://wapo.st/2MFIYHZ
Thanks to Ben Marks and Shane DuBay for their help with this video!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Created by:
Emily Graslie -- Brandon Brungard -- Sheheryar Ahsan
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode is filmed at and supported by The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.
fieldmuseum.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
![Sooty Birds Share Dirt on Air Pollution [60 Second Specimens]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C8QYVny_j88/mqdefault.jpg "Sooty Birds Share Dirt on Air Pollution [60 Second Specimens]
Every specimen has a story; these dirty birds helped scientists answer questions about levels of air pollution in the United States over a period of 135 years.
More 60 Second Specimen stories:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL8_5VpX9Txpke4mWgBrsHVgNLeunW-XY
Sources/Articles:
Bird specimens track 135 years of atmospheric black carbon and environmental policy: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/10/04/1710239114
The Dirty Secrets Saved in Dead Birds Feathers New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/science/birds-air-pollution.html
Sooty birds reveal hidden US air pollution BBC http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41557157
Dirty birds show just how catastrophic air pollution used to be Washington Post https://wapo.st/2MFIYHZ
Thanks to Ben Marks and Shane DuBay for their help with this video!
Created by:
Emily Graslie Brandon Brungard Sheheryar Ahsan
This episode is filmed at and supported by The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.
http://www.fieldmuseum.org")
![Murder by Birder [60 Second Specimens]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F-ohbDZaYVg/mqdefault.jpg "Murder by Birder [60 Second Specimens]
Every specimen has a story: this one was donated to the Field Museum by a murderer. [Stay tuned for another 60 sec. specimen story TOMORROW!]
Before he was charged and convicted with the murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks, Nathan Leopold was an active birder in the Chicago community. After his conviction and sentencing he donated his collection of birds and published checklists to the Field Museum, where they remain today.
Kirtlands Warblers (Setophaga kirtlandii) are relatively rare birds, and back in the 1920s little was known about their migration behavior or life histories. This specimen remains important today not just for its historical significance in connection with a convicted murderer but for the scientific value it provides as a voucher specimen for research.
More 60 Second Specimen stories:
Science by Day - Spy by Night: https://youtu.be/WF2y_HSA2I0
60 Sec. Specimen playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL8_5VpX9Txpke4mWgBrsHVgNLeunW-XY&disable_polymer=true
Spring Migration Notes... by a Murderer: http://bit.ly/2KNAgr1
Leopold and Loebs Criminal Minds: http://bit.ly/2L0dhIp
Spring Migration Notes of the Chicago Area: http://bit.ly/2uk1Wsh
Created by:
Emily Graslie Brandon Brungard Sheheryar Ahsan
This episode is filmed at and supported by The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.
http://www.fieldmuseum.org")
