Monday, October 20, 2008

Some Local Feathers



I found the top feather on Sackett Street East of Nevins on Sunday, not far from a spot where I spied a circular saw blade lying near a chain link fence. The feather's a little shabby, and I wouldn't be surprised if I were the second human to have carried it around. It doesn't seem like something you'd find around there. It's 9 inches long.

The bottom feather I found at one of our beaches, I've forgotten which. Maybe Manhattan Beach. I find it very cheerful.

I clean feathers with Florida Water, or if not that, a mixture of alcohol and H2O, but the firewater does seem to eat away at them a little, they're not quite the same afterwards.

3 comments:

Matthew said...

With 300+ bird species recorded in NYC over the years, you'd be surprised about what we get.

The top feather is, I think, from a Cooper's hawk, accipiter cooperii; it may be worn from age, this time of year, not previous handling. Uncommon, but not unheard of in Prospect and surrounds.

The lower feather continues to intrigue me.

amarilla said...

Oooh, I was hoping it was a hawk. Thanks, as always, for the illumination.

amarilla said...

Here's a Coopers Hawk!