Field Museum scientists comment on your specimens on ID Day

CHICAGO – Curious nature-lovers can have experts check out that fossil found on the bike path or the photo of a rare bird snapped in the woodlands.

The Field Museum has its annual “ID Day” Saturday. A world-renowned scientist will be available to examine clean and dry bones, fossils, rocks, meteorites, shells, feathers, artifacts or photos of wildlife. A specialist will be available to identify and comment on it — for free.

Don’t bring in anything that’s living — or was recently.

Officials say the Field Museum is an active research institution which relies heavily on its collections of 30 million specimens.

The fourth annual ID Day is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year more than a dozen scientists were available. It was so popular there will be more this year.