The exhibition, which has been housed since 2003 on the first floor of the 16th-century Palazzone di Sant’Alberto, an ancient Estense tavern, was formed around an initial core consisting of a precious ornithological collection characterized by mostly local birdlife from the province of Ravenna and Romagna.
The museum’s symbol is the robin, the first specimen of which was taxidermied by Brandolini in 1906. Over the years, the collection has been enriched with specimens of international distribution. In addition to the ornithological collections, the museum preserves other collection cores obtained through donations or acquisitions; there are entomological collections that have been joined by collections of eggs and nests, collections of reptiles, mammals, and even exotic shells.
There is also a minerals collection and an ethnographic collection, bequests from naturalists of the territory. The museum headquarters is a visitor center for the Po Delta Park, a starting point for guided excursions in the area.
