[Marci MN]

Thank you, Thank you! You folks opened up all sorts of possibilities for my mind to work on. I was just stuck on how to put it all together. I didnt think of the feathers becoming ratty looking and needing replacing either. That put a new twist on things. LOL

I do have bags of feathers from the craft store. Both in color and white. And beads I've have by the buckets full.

My husband came up with an idea too, how would this work? To use that shrink tubing. Dab some glue on the feather shank and slide one of those shrink tubing on the leather before laying the leather over that feather shank.. then after everything is lined up, shrink that tubing tight? Protecting the feather from the heat. Maybe even put beads on over the tubing to hide it?

And thank you for the feather painting tip. I'll look around the house here to see if I have anything for dyeing that feather.

Thank you also for putting in pictures, it sure helps to understand directions.

[Claude]

Here's a couple of places with instructions for wrapping and/or attaching feathers to something.

http://ladyhawkesite.tripod.com/prayerfeather.htm
http://ladyhawkesite.tripod.com/Wrappedfeathers.htm

Claude

[don]

I suppose for the people enforcing the laws it's a question of how do you prove that the eagle feather was picked up from the forest floor and not taken from an illegally hunted bird. Not every one tells the truth. Don

Originally Posted by Nancy-CA

Isn't it ridiculous! #$&%*$#!. I won't even begin to go there.

[AlArchie]

Don, as a retired law enforcement officer, I'd have to suspect that a found eagle feather would have to be distinguished from an illegal one, the same way a stolen electric razor is distinguished from a legally owned one.........INVESTIGATION.

I'd also suspect that there are a LOT more found ones, than poached ones!

IMFLEOHO

Al

[Marci MN]

Claude, thank you very much for those two links! They gave me even more ideas to work with. I also had a fun time browsing that site. Are you related to the site owner?

I will not use real Eagle feathers or bird of prey feathers. I have raised my own bronze turkeys and have saved feathers from them when we butchered those. I also have chukar feathers from one of our flocks we had.

I've had the opportunity to watch what happens when a dead Eagle is found. Its quite amazine. The DNR dude comes to look at it, inspect it, take pictures of it and will not move it. He brought along a Native American fella, of what rank I'm not sure. But this guy had three others with him. They did this ceramony and I tell you.. it was the most reverent thing I've ever witnessed. Then the head NA picked the bird up and put it in a fancy blanket. With the others chanting all the time. When they were done they all stood in silence. The DNR then said when they defeather the bird and they find shot marks or whatever, they call him to come take more pictures if needed.

I'm sure there was more to what their agreement was..but I dont know of it. I was just a bystander.

I have since that day looked at Eagles in a whole new light.

Sorry...just had to share and to calm a few worries that I would use the real thing as far as feathers go.

[Linda L]

Wow, finally something this beginner can add to a discussion! Many years ago I worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service as Education Director on a Wildlife Refuge here in Washington State. Marci your story about the Eagle both intrigues me and puzzles me.

Understand, my knowledge is over 10 years old, but "back in the day" we had a freezer with 4 or 5 Bald Eagles stored in it. They were killed usually by cars, power line vs eagle or shot. We held them as a depository for the forensic lab in Oregon---can't think of the town. Even for a Native American to "legally" own the feathers they had to apply for a permit. Native Americans can't just pick them up either.

The International Migratory Bird Act is the law you are all talking about. It has been around for quite a while. It covers any native migrating bird. Here in Washington that is everything except pigeons, starlings and house sparrows. They are all imported from foreign countries, not native. Interesting fact is that some birds, like a few robins, only "migrate" to higher/lower elevations, but are still protected.

The reason it is not legal to own or have these feathers in your possession is just what someone mentioned---it is almost impossible to identify where they came from and whether the person killed the bird. It's not vigorously enforced unless you attept to sell something with one of them attached. I can't imagine spotting a red tail hawk feather or an owl feather on the ground and not picking it up, who could? But just be aware that if you do, you could be fined a huge sum for having it.

Hey, thanks for the memories! Best job I ever had, learned a lot about birds and had a freezer full of specimens. Of course, I wasn't trying to learn to carve at the time---wish I had access to those specimens now!

Linda

[Nancy-ID]

Okay I can get it on the protected birds and animals but what's with the found wood? I think "they" go a bit too far on some of the protection stuff. Here, because of an almost continual drought it is extremely dry. We have a lot of strong winds. It would seem to me that "they" would welcome people to cut up downed trees for firewood or pick up the dead, dry yucca stalks. It would help lessen fire danger. There should be no problem distingishing dead wood from fresh cut.

[Linda L]

I agree about some of the things they are "protecting" as really stupid. In my field, you'd think I would have a "Protect All" mentality, but some of these things are so ridiculous they are insane.

Don't plan to visit Mt. St. Helen's and bring home any pumice rocks or pebbles---it's a no-no, even though there are acres and acres of the stuff and you can buy it in the gift shop. Hmmmm...Maybe there's a hidden agenda there...did I "buy" it at the gift shop where it was probably imported from a country that isn't so restrictive and label it "St. Helen's" or are vendors allowed to collect and sell. Makes you wonder doesn't it???

Linda

[Marci MN]

Linda, I'm sorry I couldnt give you more information on the ceromony or the DNR agreement they had with the NA's.

The only reason I was there was to pick up the husband to come help my husband. I guess it was his boy that found the bird and the mother called the DNR.

When you mentioned the word permit that niggled something in my brain about another conversation I had with an older Indian woman. Now dont quote me..but I remember asking her how she made her costume with the bird feathers. I seem to remember something about her saying they would get a permit and when a bird was found they do the ceromony but get the bird later. Or just get the feathers from the bird? ?Maybe after its been investigated??? I dont know.

I didnt know you couldnt pick up found wood tho.. thats a little bit overboard I think. Or is this rule in certain govt owned properties or something?

Side note: Claude, I cut a feather like that site showed.. it worked and was really cool when it was folded over and taped down. I will still play with that idea adding beads and such. Thanks again for that url.

[Linda L]

Marci, not to worry, as in all things, the law is one thing, enforcement another.

I do know it is a very contriversial subject with Native Americans. They have all sorts of restrictions to own the feathers also. As I recall, you need to be part of a Federally recognized Tribe, and be registered with the Fed Gov't (card carrying as NA's call it). Many NA refuse to register---they feel that government has no right to make them register and become very adament about it. Eagle feathers are very sacred to them, and a I've been to Pow Wow's (NA gatherings) where an eagle feather fell from a dancer's regalia and landed on the floor. The entire event is stopped, and the feather is taken out and ceremoniously burned and blessed. A VERY protected and revered emblem to them.

Many are angry about the hoops they must jump through to obtail feathers for their regalia, and as such, many choose to use substitute dyed turkey feathers. They truly prize and protect the genuine feathers they own.

Another point that someone asked about dying feathers to resemble Eagle feathers... I was always puzzled that the Eagle feathers you buy at the craft stores are whte turkey feathers with black mottling. It didn't make sense to me. I did some research to figure it out.

An adult "Bald Eagle" has pretty much either all balck and white solid color feathers. The mottled ones you see more closely resemble the "Golden Eagle." (closely being the key word) Just a tidbit I found in my research!

For someone wanting to carve and color an Eagle Feather, the Bald Eagle feather is nothing special to look at as it is usually a solid color and can just as easily look like a raven or seagull feather!

As far as attaching to something, I usually use the "Boy Scout" wrap method. Using the end of a cord/string/ fiber/ double it back on itself, then begin to wrap the quill, leaving a small loop exposed below the wrapping. Wrap from the open end of the string down to the loop. Put the cut end of the wrap string through the loop, and "pull up" on the exposed end where you began wrapping. This pulls the "loop" under the wrap, securing it. You can then clip off the ends. The string you "pull" can be used to attach it to your object. Hope that makes sense, it's usually pretty secure if you wrap it tight enough. You can also top coat the wrap with glue or something to secure the wraps.

I carved some feather pendants and earrings and found the tubes one of the members mentioned here. I carved the quill to fit inside the tube (whith a hole in top for stringing and glued the tube onto the end of the quill. Seems to work OK. You can find them at craft or jewelry supply stores.

Hope this helps!

Linda