Dawn® Difference Diaries

9/28/06 Caring for Mallard Ducks, Western Gulls, Pelicans and Murres | Main | 9/30/06 Murres Are Healthy and Back in Their Natural Habitat!

9/29/06 "Imping" Gives Birds with Broken Feathers a Chance

There was good news at the IBRRC today. The Murres that we had been rehabilitating were going to be prepared for release tomorrow! In addition to their regular care and rehabilitation, they all had to be tagged with federal bands. This is a US Fish and Wildlife leg band that is used to identify and monitor the bird after release to its natural habitat.

Since the Murres are now able to eat solid food, they are fed night smelt. Most of the patients at the IBRRC are fed this type of fish because of its very low oil content. Sources of oil are eliminated in every area possible. Fish and vegetable oils are very hard to remove from feathers. That's why it's important to place cooking oils and fats in a sealed container in the garbage instead of pouring them down the kitchen drain.

Today I learned about a very specialized practice called imping. This involves grafting donor feathers onto the shaft of broken feathers of birds that would otherwise have no chance of survival (kind of like a hair transplant). This practice gives the birds a chance to survive in the wild until their natural molting process replaces the broken feathers. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well on diving birds because the glue that is used for grafting breaks down. Maybe someone will invent something that will hold in the water. It’s amazing what can be done when talented and dedicated people care.

Posted by Christy Buckley on Sep 30, 2006

Comments

Christy,
thanks for the first few postings. I am learning a ton about what these folks o at the IBRRC and love that it seems like every day you guys are saving lives!

Posted by:
Ernesto | Oct 1, 2006 10:06:46 AM

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