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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,126
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| | Welcome to our newest member, Kathy P | |  | 
18-01-2010, 06:48 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 690
| | | How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
I would like to work out which birds in a group of wildfowl have been pinioned. I've read posts on the subject and seen pictures. But I don't really understand what I'm looking for. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance 
Ash
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18-01-2010, 07:11 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,603
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
The primaries will be missing on one wing, so when the bird is swimming/walking you'll see just one wing with the main flight feathers. On an unpinioned bird you'll see both sets clearly. |
18-01-2010, 08:28 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SW London
Posts: 2,099
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
This goose was at Barnes - should there be two of the longest feathers if they are not pinioned? 
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19-01-2010, 04:37 AM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,603
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
Quote:
Originally Posted by loripo  This goose was at Barnes - should there be two of the longest feathers if they are not pinioned? | The Red-breasted Goose (of which there are several in the World of Wetlands exhibit at the London Wetland Centre) above is clearly pinioned as it only has 1 full set of primaries. |
21-01-2010, 11:26 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 690
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
Thanks for your replies
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I want to die peacefully like my Grandfather did, not screaming, like the passengers in his car. |
21-01-2010, 12:14 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North of York
Posts: 1,031
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
Excuse my ignorance  , but why pinion?
I used to cut the primaries on my hens on one wing to stop them flying over the fence, is that the same as pinioning? Why would you do it on wild birds? |
21-01-2010, 12:28 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Carmarthenshire, Wales
Posts: 623
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
Pinioning is generally carried out on birds in wildfowl collections to stop them flying away and mingling with the wild bird population. With pinioning the whole pinion joint is removed (the end joint on a birds wing) so that the primary flight feathers can't possibly grow back.
Domestic chickens tend to only have their primary feathers clipped on one side, mainly because doing it once is sufficient, as by the time the feathers have regrown the chicken has forgotten how to fly in the first place  They are spectacularly thick birds! I did my 3 girls about 18 months ago and they don't seem to have remembered! |
21-01-2010, 12:40 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North of York
Posts: 1,031
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
Thanks Nicola,
I'm always the one to ask the stupid questions!
My girls were spectacular houdinis & they still managed to escape with one wing clipped! I think the postie thought I was mad as he would often see me with one hen tucked up under my arm & running about with a big pond net shouting "chook, chook, chookie"... Never said a word to me either, just handed me my post & left. Probably thought I'd forgotten to take my meds! |
21-01-2010, 12:42 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Carmarthenshire, Wales
Posts: 623
| | | Re: How do you identify a pinioned bird in the field?
Haha!!
Glad to be of help! Mine can do some pretty good power jumps to get over fences, but no proper flight  | | |
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