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"Ah", you say, "now to get this one off to the taxidermist. It'll look swell on the mantlepiece." Wait! Take a few minutes and think about your choice. Be darn sure you've selected the best bird for display. Here are some pointers:
- Look for a mature bird. Mature birds are usually larger.They have fuller feathers and are brighter in color.
- Think in terms of a "prime" bird, one that is fully feathered. A bird may be an adult but not in its prime.
- Check carefully for pinfeathers! A bird with a lot of pinfeathers is not a good candidate for taxidermy. You do know what pinfeathers are, don't you? Pinfeathers are the newly growing feathers with soft shafts.
- The last feathers to mature on waterfowl are the scapulars. Those are the large feathers on the shoulder.
- Take a close look at the head feathers to make sure they are full and not damaged.
- Don't worry about bloody birds. They are not a problem. Blood need not even be washed off.
- Broken feathers, wings and legs may or may not be a problem, depending on where they are broken. Often, the positioning of the mount may also determine whether or not breakage is a problem. Damaged bills are also not a problem, for we use reproduction heads on most species.
© Stefan Savides
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