Feather Pattern Remains After Dove Window-Strike

A vivid indication of the wing patterns of an Mourning Dove were left after it struck a large pane of window glass.

The pattern indicated the body area, but especially the primary feathers of each wing. For one wing, even the pattern of the secondaries was obvious and vividly prominent. There was no impression of the tail feathers. The image measured 13 inches in width.

After the dove hit the glass with a loud smack, it fell away an inch or two, and then flew away, so seemingly survived the collision.

The dove apparently flew from the top board of a corral fence, which is just about 16-feet northward of the window. The large picture window is on the north side of a cabin. Doves, including the Eurasian Colarred Dove, occasionally walk atop this fence, and they also forage on the nearby bare ground of a horse pen.

The strike occurred about mid-morning on April 24, 2016 at a country setting north of Valentine. Other smaller birds — notably sparrows and the junco — have also occasionally struck this same window, which is characteristically reflective.

Feathers in Fall Bonnets of 1874

One of the most distinguished bonnets is of steel blue velvet trimmed with loops and torsade of lighter blue. The crown is covered with black net, dotted with blue steel spangles. The brim flares upward all around, is faced with the darkest velvet, and against it rests a vine of blue steel leaves. At the back of the bonnet is a pink rose cluster. A second of deepest sea blue velvet and gros grain has a soft cap crown of velvet, with a high rolled coronet of gros grain; below the coronet is a roll of velvet tied behind in a tiny bow without ends. A spray of blue steel leaves in front is the only ornament in this compact and tasteful bonnet.

An olive brown bonnet of the darkest shade of velvet has around the crown a scarf of wide ribbon that is salmon-covered satin on one side and olive gros grain on the other; this laps behind, and has short square ends raveled as fringe. A wreath of tinted geranium leaves is in front, two long nodding cock's plumes on the left, and a cluster of pink and scarlet roses behind.

The prettiest bonnet is of chestnut brown velvet, with brown satin crown, and velvet brim turned straight up in front. Three pink and yellow roses are directly in front, with some upturned sprays of white velvet forget-me-nots. Still above this are pink and white heron feathers, while behind is a long looped bow of the velvet and satin.

A black velvet bonnet is made youthful-looking by a scarf of wide double-faced-ribbon — poncean satin on one side and black gros grain on the other — being tied around the crown; a red and black bird, with head down and spread wings, is on he soft pleats of the crown in front. Another black velvet has pink and black ribbon, with dangling oats of jet all around the crown.

A mouse-colored velvet has a crown of pearl gray gros grain; the brim is pointed high in front, and supports a wreath of shaded scarlet geraniums. A scoop bonnet of myrtle green velvet has the crown formed of the green satin side of a double-faced scarf ribbon. A second of green velvet has the brim covered with leaves that are beaded with green; white heron's plume and three large full rose-buds, scarlet, pink and salmon, are the trimmings.

August 22, 1874. The fall bonnets. Putnam County Courier 33(16): 1.

Feather Flowers New Branch of Industry

A new branch of industry has been started in Florida, which bids fair to prove exceedingly remunerative. It is the manufacture of feather flowers, that will not fade or change color under any circumstances. The flowers are made of the plumage of the white heron, while the leaves are taken from the paroquet. They are unusually rich and attractive, and need only to be seen to be appreciated. Some of these flowers are made of the dove-colored crane's plumage, for ladies who no longer claim the privileges and gayety of youth, and others again are manufactured for those who are in half mourning, the jetty blackness of certain portions of the work contrasting elegantly with the snow white purity of the other.

Weekly Columbus Enquirer 44(44): 4. Issued October 29, 1872. From Exchange.

Feather Atlas Useful for Identification of North American Birds

A unique resource for identification of flight feathers of North American birds is now available at the online Feather Atlas.

“The Feather Atlas is the first widely-available resource to provide species identification tools for detached feathers,” said Pepper Trail, the ornithologist with the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, a division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He is the coordinator for the atlas website project.

“Until the Feather Atlas, there was no widely-available image database of detached flight feathers of North American birds,” Trail said in an email interview. “These scans will be useful in terms of illustrating feather structure and function (compare, for example, the outer primaries of buteos, accipiters, and falcons), as well as documenting plumage variation."

“The primary intended use is for species identification, but there are many other possible uses, including by researchers (as a source for feather measurements), artists (to reference fine details of plumage when they lack access to specimens), and educators (to show examples of feather shape and appearance). There will likely be other uses for these scans that have not even been imagined."

Groups represented by the atlas thus far are hawks, eagles, vultures, falcons, pigeons and doves, cuckoos, owls, and woodpeckers, with 64 species currently illustrated.

Tail fathers of the Red-bellied Woodpecker. Image courtesy of the Feather Atlas.

“We began with raptors, with particular emphasis on the different plumages of Bald and Golden Eagles,” said Pepper Trail, a biologist in the Laboratory. “The feathers of birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, and owls, are the most commonly encountered by FWS agents, both in partial carcasses (for example, electrocuted bird remains) and in crafted items (such as feather fans). Flicker feathers are also frequently used in crafted items, which led us into the woodpeckers.”

For each species, examples of wing and tail feathers are shown on a background that provides a scale for referencing the size of each feather. Precise measurements – to the nearest millimeter – are also given in a data table found beneath each scan. “The measurements are an important additional resource for making identifications,” Trail said.

Further details for each image provide the bird’s sex, age and where it originated.

Also provided with the atlas is a glossary of terms used to describe parts of a feather, illustrated with annotated figures. Coming soon to the web site will be options to zoom in to view feathers in a greater detail, print an image or create a portable document file with the image.

Details on the legal issues related to feather possession are presented, including a link to the complete list of protected species. There is also information about special rules which are applicable to Native Americans, which often use bird material in tribal ceremonies.

The Forensics Laboratory created the atlas since it provides “identification resources to the field officers of the Office of Law Enforcement,” Trail said. “Much of our work at the laboratory involves making species identifications from partial remains, including loose feathers,” Trail said. “Therefore, we have both the expertise and the specimen reference collection needed to undertake this effort.

“Law enforcement personnel will find the scans useful in identifying flight feathers in crafted items and bird carcasses. Field biologists will be able to use the scans to identify feathers encountered during field work. For example, I am often asked to identify molted feathers picked up during field surveys, where the goal is to distinguish Great Gray versus Great Horned Owls or Northern Goshawk versus other raptors.

“The Feather Atlas marks an expansion of our identification resources onto a widely accessible web-based platform that will be useful not only to Fish and Wildlife Service agents, but to refuge officers, state game departments, researchers, and the general public.”

The laboratory already provides a variety of bird “Identification Notes” for use by agents and researchers.

The web site has already undergone a review by “various Fish and Wildlife Service personnel and museum-based ornithologists,” Trail said. “Their comments were very helpful in refining our search tools and in developing the information presented on the homepage. We are still working toward implementation of some of their suggestions, for example, making thumbnails of the scans available.”

The ultimate goal of the atlas is to present images of the flight feathers of all species of North American birds – a project that will take years.

Trail stated that the strategy is to scan as many members of a bird family as possible before adding that group to the atlas, thus allowing comparisons between similar species. As a result, he explained, “the availability of specimens influences which groups we work on. We are currently scanning the feathers of upland gamebirds (quail, grouse, and relatives) and nightjars. After that, we plan to begin work on waterfowl. And on an ongoing basis, we will add new species and scans to existing groups as additional specimens become available.”

Feathers scanned for the website are from specimens in the reference collection of the Forensics Laboratory, Mr. Trail said. “Almost all these are salvaged carcasses that have been donated by our wide network among wildlife rehabilitation centers, National Wildlife Refuges and other FWS offices, bird-banders, and state game departments. No birds are killed to provide specimens.”

The actual scanning is done by a Laboratory volunteer, Sue Polich, and the specimen preparation and website design are done by Laboratory staff when time is available, Trail said.

The website emphasizes that it is illegal to possess birds or parts of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which covers almost all native North American species.

“This includes molted feathers and feathers that may have come from road- or window-kills,” Trail explained, noting that the Feather Atlas offers a legal way to study and appreciate the beauty of the feathers of protected native species: “Appreciate the images, but don’t collect feathers unless you have a permit to do so!”

Opportunities for close examination of feathers may be available at museums, zoos, and wildlife rehabilitation centers.

“Education about feathers can be done using the feathers of non-native birds such as Ring-necked Pheasant, Indian Peafowl, Rock Pigeon, European Starling and House Sparrow, Trail concluded. “The feathers of all these species can be legally possessed without permits.”

“Feathers represent a supreme combination of beauty and functionality, Trail said. “The variety of their patterns and shapes is an endless source of fascination, and I never tire of the challenge of making species identifications based on feathers alone. This project has required a sustained focus on the details of feather appearance that has been very rewarding. The response so far has suggested wide interest in this resource, which is certainly encouraging.”

National Forensics Laboratory Feather Atlas

National Forensics Lab bird “Identification Notes”