Date: 03/07/2023

Number: 1

Columbus has lost his largest Primary flight feathers-P10. Resting in his roosting area since yesterday, flying only to nearby flowers and feeder. You can see a quill-like feather wrapped in white plastic like wrapper at the top of his wing. He needs to rip out the wrapper off and let the feather unfold. Quite an amazing process, actually. We now appreciate their tremendous effort in preening hundreds of feathers to keep them looking clean and neat. Also realized their vulnerability to predators in absence of feathers that help bear torque and speed. No idea how long it takes for the feathers to unfold. The white spikes on his head are also pin feathers wrapped in a wrapper.

Carmel Hamlet, NY

Latitude: 41.4 Longitude: -73.7

Observed by: Nima
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