The field collecting for this project will take place off of UMBS or UM property in state-managed forests in the region surrounding UMBS. Researchers will collect bird specimens in the field within the guidelines of permits from Michigan Department of Natural Resources and US Fish and Wildlife Service that have already been issued to the PI, using methods approved in PI Winger’s IACUC protocol. That is, field collecting and field research will not take place on UMBS property. Rather, we propose to use UMBS facilities for 1-2 weeks (depending on availability) to prepare specimens that were collected each day throughout the surrounding region. This is a unique opportunity for 2021, because the lack of a spring Biology of Birds field course (as well as other spring field courses) should provide space availability for facilities that could serve our needs for a specimen prep lab close to our field sites northern Michigan. Normally, we prepare specimens in a tent at a field site, and it would be wonderful to have these lab facilities. Specifically, we request to: 1) Stay at the station and use lodging/dining services. 2) Have use one of the “Birds” buildings (Blanchard or Pettingill) as a short-term laboratory to prepare and organize specimens of birds (round skins and fluid-preserved specimens) that will ultimately be brought to UMMZ in Ann Arbor at the end of fieldwork. Most of this work will take place in the afternoons and evenings, as fieldwork will be conducted off property in the mornings. If necessary, we could use a different laboratory at UMBS, but the Birds classroom or specimen room seems ideal for our needs (assuming that they are not being used by other researchers or groups). 3) Have short-term access to a freezer to house tissue samples or bird carcasses during the 1-2 week stay.