Feathers in your cap

[keith_mckirk]

Interesting S.India Tamil word for raven is something like "Kaa Kaa" again related to the noise they make. My parents have Peacocks on their farm so they have tons of feathers. I've often thought if the "eye" of these would be appropriate or would be a bit too "foofy"

[georgeetta]

hello,

I saw a note on early Black Watch uniform ..and bearskin was noted, also a vulture feather, maybe for it's blackness and another kind of feather . It was in an old text ..lateer they went on mention the red hackle .

when I've seen portraits way back 1750's up of Officers Ostritch was popular it was pinned somehow on the side adn went up sidewasy over the top .

[keith_mckirk]

A blue jay feather would look nice as well. I suppose a more scottish bird would be more appropriate maybe?

[georgeetta]

i saw the ref i was talking about ..it said black rooster feathers, vulture or eagle feathers as well as black bear skin piece .

th
d

[keith_mckirk]

Oh Im not doubting the ones you listed. I was just thinking of the ones I mentioned like the Blue Jay.

[georgeetta]

there are many canadian sites about regiments .

In pictures or old portraits ..they mainly show hummel bonnets ..and most of those show big black Ostritch feathers ..attached at a jacket like pewter button with a large black what IO call a cockade ..like a coach driver's tophat .

I'm sure there's many pheasant varieties if you want to get ..artsy .

Bluejay's a remarkable feather .

th
d

[Mikilt]

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade. All bird species that are indigenous to the United States, or that pass through the US on their migratory path are protected by federal law. With the exception of those raised for food (chickens and turkeys for example) and game birds for which there are designated seasons and bag limits. This includes feathers because there is no way to distinguish whether a feather came from a live or dead bird.

It's a law that is not really enforced with respect to feathers. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is not going to show up at your house with a warrant. Nevertheless, it's an important conservation law and the possession of feathers from an indigenous species is technically against the law in the United States.

More info can be found here: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/Re.../treatlaw.html

[Mike_Oettle]

Keith McKirk wrote: “I suppose a more Scottish bird would be more appropriate maybe?”

Well, that depends on how important it is to you to present yourself as a Scot, rather than an American.
I would readily wear the feathers of South African birds.
Regards,
Mike

[georgeetta]

I have a bag of Haggis feathers I be more than willing to sell a few ....(jest)
true, song birds and protected species would get bad press ..
check out a fly tying shop ..plenty of whacky pheasant skins or Rooster feathers ..you like Jay ..fine ..I like grouse (ruffs) ..