birds of a feather
i thought i’d share my latest feather finds with you because they make me so happy.
this feather is from a blue jay. i found it on a trail near great sand bay. (i picked it up from what looked like the scene of a fight or a meal, because there were actually a great number of them.)
this feather is from a ruffled grouse. i found a handful of them on that same trail, not too far from the blue jay feathers.
these feathers are from a cooper’s hawk. i think i found them somewhere near the house, either on the side of the road or on a trail.
this feather is old but delightful. it’s from a northern flickr. i found it years ago in portland and saved it because i loved the neon orange shaft. when i discovered the feather atlas, i was finally able to look it up.
speaking of feathers: wow, is the feather atlas useful! sometimes it takes me a long time to identify a feather – the great horned owl & wild turkey feathers took over an hour each – but without it, i would be completely in the dark.
i love collecting feathers. they’re like little love notes from the natural world. (and the angels.) i keep them in mason jars in my bedroom and choose one to carry with me whenever i need a reminder that i am loved.
now i’m curious. do you collect anything?
These are gorgeous and thanks for the link to the feather atlas! I have a few feathers I’d love to identity.
Love all your finds!
I collect shells, feathers, rocks, and anything that seems to wink at me. Especially when camping: I make a wish to the forest and see what comes of it. I’m always delighted by the beauty that reveals itself.
Kimberley: I hope you find them in the atlas! It’s so fun to browse too.
Casey: I may have to try your wish. That sounds perfect – surprising + delightful. I usually wish for something specific – in this case, it was actually blue jay feather(s).
what a beautiful post and comments.
i don’t collect anything but i have the feather you sent to me once… and i have a white feahter i found right after leslie’s blind white lab died. and i have four stones.
two very large and smooth formed by thousands of years in a mountain river…
and one from what i think was a cobble stone street in the great fire of london.
and the dearest one…
my little nephew when he was three… told me to close my eyes and hold out my hand.
i did as i was told… hoping it wasn’t a snake or something icky!
it was the tiniest little smooth pebble.
i still have it. and he’s 39 years old now.
xoxo♥
I can see why you kept each one! What treasures.
Hi there, I found the exact feather you have pictured with the orange shaft but I dont know what it is! Do you remember what kind of feather that is?
thanks~Jenn