This item consists of a documentary film created from motion picture footage shot by Perrygo during the Wetmore-Perrygo Expedition to Panama from 1950-1953. Wetmore and Perrygo traveled to Panama to collect ornithological specimens as part of Wetmore's research for his book entitled Birds of Panama. The film includes footage from the Canal Zone Biological Area (also known as Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute), Chimán, Maje mountain, Cerro Campana, Río Indio, and Soná. Narration explains the purpose of the trip, localities visited, and the people and animals encountered by Wetmore and Perrygo. The items also includes shot logs for the documentary with transcripts of the narrator's voice over. Bird specimens observed or taken from the field include: trogan, toucan, currasow, brown pelican, guan, macaw, manakin, ground cuckoo, motmot, nunbird, grebe, comorant, tinamou, and scale-crested pygmy tyrant (Lophotricus pileatus). The film also includes footage of howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, tapirs, two-toed silky anteaters, and other mammals. The item includes a VHS access copy of the documentary.
Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu.
