Turkey Feathers
Florida, land of mosquitos, torn by hurricanes, pummeled by rockets lifting off, invaded by hordes of pale tourists: undoubtedly the bird capital of the United States. However…. I cannot think of any wild bird feather you can legally pick up except for a turkey feather… I guess a Starling feather is ok to touch.
The other day on a birding tour I discovered a pair of crimson Cardinal feathers -I placed them back on the sand.... That is the law.
Sample of domestic feathers picked from the ground, representing some of the colors/markings of the Heritage Turkey.
Feather Genes & turkey color
"Porters Rare Heritage Turkeys" cannot be outdone in feather color explanation through genetics:
http://www.porterturkeys.com/phenotypesandgenotypes.htm
http://www.porterturkeys.com/feathercolorgenetics.htm
Picked this heritage turkey feather from the ground this morning. I was impressed.
Another unique turkey feather in the grass this morning
And they just keep dropping.....
The ancient wing....
Interesting study of wing shapes- analysis/comparison of species from across nine major avian clades & result of the study suggested wing shapes are influenced more from the "bird's ancestors wings" and less on flight style as long believed.
Mid-Cretaceous era, 100 million year old wing & feathers preserved in amber.
Hobby Feathers.......
Turkey arrow fletching
My wife made these for a wedding.
And another wedding..
LAWS, LAWS, LAWS.......
As already stated birds are protected to the point where you cannot even possess their feathers.
Wild ducks-yes, but then most of the time duck feathers are peppered with shotgun pellets. However you can legally pick up/possess wild turkey feathers.
Just throwing that out as "feather consumer warning"
Not even a Scrub Jay feather
Big fines....no picking raptor or sea-bird feathers from the shoreline or oak hammock.
Sandhhill Crane (do not pick up the feathers)
Even though you cannot pick up feathers, there are plenty of birds to photograph!
Turkeys of Kennedy Space Center
Turkey arrow fletching.......
Wild turkey feather on ATATL-ATATL dart shaft
The reason I bought the original turkeys was to obtain some feathers for primitive arrow fletching.
Well that goal was exceeded beyond wildest expectations ---Fletching feathers, quill feathers, art and historical re-enactment feathers. Most of the feathers just get tossed into the garden-compost cart; still we end up with bags of turkey feathers.
Native American Connection........
Turkey feathers were used by many native Americans for robes, blankets, rainwear and of course decoration and arrow fletching. And often had social and religious connections: Gods
DNA analysis conclusively demonstrates The South Mexican domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) is the primary ancestor of most modern pet and factory turkeys; with only varying degrees of other sup-species of wild turkeys mixed in. Turkey DNA in Mexico and the American Southwest
Hobby Photos......
My hobby of reproduction arrows and flintknapping.
And of course the turkey is an extremely curious bird by nature. "So I have helpers"
MY
ATATL-ATATL (spear thrower) with turkey wing feather fletched palmetto wood dart
Feather evolution......
Newly hatched poult.
So I was reading that scientists speculate the first feathers developed for warmth.
Check out the artist rendition of Anchiornis huxleyi
And this National Geographic artist version of an early Bird.
A collection of 15 feathered dinosaurs:
We let our turkeys mingle & mate- and the feather results are interesting...
Next arrow? hmmm....
A simple collection of "Turkey Art" ----vindication of the human fascination with these curious birds
The majority of our feathers actually go into our gardens.
What of the white turkey feathers produced by the millions at the production farms? The turkey and chicken feathers are recycled as “feather meal”
to be sold
as "organic" fertilizer or added as a food supplement to hog,
poultry and aquaculture feeds.
Return HOME from Heritage turkey feathers page
The Ais, Native Americans of Kennedy Space Center (link takes you to my other web site about the space center)
My next book, available on Amazon, February 2025
Eastern Missouri, a little radioactive waste and a possible ghost, what could go wrong?
Do you need the perfect gift?
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Author Bruce Ryba at Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39B & Artemis 1. "We are going to the Moon!"
Author's discussion (that's me) on You Tube of a book review on Amazon
My Facebook page Pet Turkeys You can always check in and say hello!
For the video versions of information, please check out my YouTube Channel (Turkeys, KSC, Flintknapping, dive stories etc.)
Book One of Florida History:
Freedoms Quest Struggle for the Northern Frontier and lost tales of old Florida
Fiction & language warning.
Available on Amazon
Desperate times call for bold action.
In a desperate move to retain Florida and protect the treasure-laden galleons on their dangerous return journey to Europe, the King of Spain issues a royal decree offering refuge to all English slaves who escape Florida and pick up a musket to defend the coquina walls of Saint Augustine.
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Clans, traumatized by war and disease, cross the Spanish Frontier to settle the cattle-rich land and burned missions of Florida.
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Book Two: Available on Amazon
