Move Over Flowers, I’ve Got a Plume of Feathers!
Spring Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Nature Art”
A perfect tuft of wild feathers
Over summer, my front yard was full of feathers. There were lovely white feathers from the White Cockatoos. We’d find the occasional bright green tail feather from a Ringneck. Tiny fluffy feathers like pink confetti adorned the shrubs, left behind by the Pink Galahs.
Once, when the Black Cockatoos from across the road took fright, a fabulous black and red feather dropped at my feet. Unfortunately, Chilli has a feather fetish, so she mangled it to ensure she got rid of all the birdie magic.
I decided I’d collect a bunch of wild feathers when Mary announced Nature Art as the Spring Challenge theme. It seemed like a perfect fit, given the variety of birds in my front yard.
Easier said than done. Thank goodness this challenge ran for longer than a month!
Every day I’d scour the front yard for feathers. We’ve had heavy rain, so I’d occasionally score a bedraggled feather to dry out. The pink fluff was nowhere to be seen.
The Black Cockatoos feasting on the tree across the road moved on to other feeding grounds. (Their tree has since been cut down, and I am madder than a wet cat about it. But that’s a saga for another day).
I started looking out for feathers when I took Rotto for his Rott-trot. I bribed the kidlets at school to look for feathers at lunchtime. Sadly, I didn’t have to dip into my prize box once. However, the kidlets enjoyed the feather hunt, even if it was unproductive.
Gradually feather by single feather, I built a collection. It wasn’t anywhere near as good as the grand collection I pictured when I started.
The problem, of course, is the Australian climate. In Australia, wild birds generally molt between November and March. Perhaps I’ll just have to make another feather collection in summer!
A plume of feathers, or a tuft of feathers. Both are acceptable collective nouns. Which one do you prefer?
More Six Word Photo Stories in the Bird Saga from Sandi:
Part 2: The Pink Galahs Came Back
Part 3: How To Live Your Best Life
Part 4: The White Cockatoos Have Moved In
Part 5: Feeding Time at the Menagerie
Part 6: Two for the Price of One
Part 7: Three Cockatoos in Training With Their Coach
Sandi Parsons is an award-winning school librarian with over 20 years experience working in educational libraries. She lives with her favorite husband, two problem puppies, and a wingspan of wild birds.
Join Medium today with this referral link and access every Medium story you want to read.
