Feather I.D. pls

[astarsdad]

I found this feather near my feeding station the other morning whilst putting food out. I think it may be a tawny owls feather. I explained to my devilish young nephew that owls are predators and among other things, they eat small birds. He was surprised. However, I think he might be impressed if someone identifies it as an eagle or vulture feather!

[Acipiter]

Its a sparrow hawks feather.

[astarsdad]

How about that! I have only ever seen one in the garden in my whole 60 years of living here in this house. I was having breakfast in the 1970s in front of my window, watching the birds as I usually do. A sparrow hawk appeared from nowhere on to outside paving. I called my father, who was in the front room, for him to come and see. By the time he arrived, it had dived into a bush and I thought that he had missed something he would be interested in. I thought he might not believe me, and I was excitedly disappointed for him. All of a sudden the sparrow hawk came out of the bush and onto the paving again. The both of us were able to enjoy the hawk at very close range, about 6 ft.

[Acipiter]

I collect the moulted feathers I find every year, I now have so many I am thinking of making a headdress.

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by Acipiter

I collect the moulted feathers I find every year, I now have so many I am thinking of making a headdress.

I also collect feathers and have given some Wabbers headaches asking for all the i.d.s

[Acipiter]

I only collect s/hawk feathers for research, I do believe there is a book on raptors feathers, I think its around £30?

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by Acipiter

I only collect s/hawk feathers for research, I do believe there is a book on raptors feathers, I think its around £30?

That's one I haven't got Yet!

What kind of research are you doing on sparrowhawks?

[Acipiter]

At the moment I am working on the difference urbanization, has made on the s/hawk. Local dispersal, and how many of my local pairs, have retained long term partnerships. my early studies were mainly rechecking for my self, what was already known, here I found some things that have so far not been documented. Plus I am still working on the study of polygyny to which very little is known in s/hawks, and to which I might add, so far, I have learned some very interesting facts, again facts which have not been documented.

[Farplace]

Originally Posted by Acipiter

At the moment I am working on the difference urbanization, has made on the s/hawk. Local dispersal, and how many of my local pairs, have retained long term partnerships. my early studies were mainly rechecking for my self, what was already known, here I found some things that have so far not been documented. Plus I am still working on the study of polygyny to which very little is known in s/hawks, and to which I might add, so far, I have learned some very interesting facts, again facts which have not been documented.

Sounds interesting. I hope you will share this knowledge here at some point?
jan

[actionfinch]

Originally Posted by Acipiter

I collect the moulted feathers I find every year, I now have so many I am thinking of making a headdress.

Or a feather pillow...
ill have a copy ,Acipiter, of your findings....