A Feather in Your Cap?

Walking the grassy trails along South Beach and Whistler Ave. this time of year, you’re bound to find a bird feather or three.

Dr. Adam Mitchell explains:

“As a rule, most birds will molt at least once a year—some do so for migration, and others do so to replace damaged feathers with age. The kind of feathers that are replaced can determine the difference between juvenile and adulthood.”

This local resident pheasant won’t be strutting so proudly around the Parade Grounds these weeks. Shedding its long colorful plumage, it prefers basking in the lazy days of summer.

From the Field, Field Note by Justine Kibbe, July 10, 2019