Bird Feathers

The colors and shapes of birds’ feathers are part of our attraction to winged wonders like this Fiery-throated Hummingbird photographed by Joseph Pescatore.
An illustration of the 7 feather types – wing, down, tail, contour, semiplume, bristle, and filoplume.
A Red-headed Woodpecker in flight shows black primary wing feathers and white secondary wing feathers; contour feathers cover its body, and its tail feathers are specially adapted to provide support against tree trunks, branches, and other perches (photo by Paul Konrad).

If you are like us, you’ve probably been finding feathers in your yard the past month or so, and we’re betting it’s made you more curious about feathers. You’ve probably also seen some birds with missing feathers – tail feathers are often most obvious, wing feathers too. So much of what makes birds attractive to us is connected to their feathers. Feather colors and shapes catch our attention, and allow us to identify different species, sexes, and ages of birds.

Birds’ ability to fly captures everyone’s attention, and feathers help birds withstand a variety of weather and water conditions, which makes feathers an important part of the maintenance of birds’ physiology. With that in mind, we thought it would be interesting to share an introduction to the topic of feathers and molting, with a more expansive lesson link available for you to study more about feathers any time you wish.

Now, the Bird Academy’s “feather lesson” is expansive and Free, provided online to include information you can download along with a variety of videos to help visualize the diversity of information provided. Here, we provide a sampling of information that should whet your interest in learning more about feathers, plumage, and molting – so important to the life and survival of birds.

– Each feather on a bird’s body is a finely tuned structure that serves an important role in the bird’s activities. Feathers rarely act independently, usually overlap, and work together in a variety of ways that allow birds to fly, keep warm, keep dry, help them communicate, and often help them blend in with their surroundings.

– There are 7 types of feathers: Read more

Wildlife

Introducing the SIG SAUER MCX-SPEAR-LT

NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER is pleased to announce the evolution of the most advanced and tested rifle platform in the world with the introduction of the MCX-SPEAR-LT. Built off the foundation of the MCX Virtus the third generation of the MCX combines all the extensive testing, continued product development, and customer/special operations feedback to become the MCX-SPEAR-LT.

“The first generation of the MCX platform was designed to be an AR-15 style platform with added modularity. The second generation of the MCX, the MCX Virtus, was purpose-built for rugged durability and brought unprecedented modularity. Now comes the MCX-SPEAR-LT, which incorporates the best of both generations and is the culmination of the latest research, development, and innovation in the MCX platform,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The lightened handguard has the expected rigidity and durability of the MCX, the lower is a familiar SDI, M400-style lower and ambi-bolt catch and release that is designed to fit the legacy VIRTUS uppers for more versatility. The MCX-SPEAR-LT will accept AR-15 style triggers, in addition to the legacy triggers for even more flexibility in the MCX platform. With the MCX-SPEAR_LT also comes the long-awaited addition of the 7.62×39 caliber to the MCX family bringing even more modularity to a platform that simply can’t be matched. The evolution continues and the MCX-SPEAR-LT has raised the bar for modular weapons technology.” Read more

Firearms

FPC Files Supplemental Brief in Lawsuit Challenging California’s ‘1-in-30’ Firearm Purchase Ban

SAN DIEGO, CA (September 20, 2022) – Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announces the filing of a supplemental brief in its Nguyen v. Bonta lawsuit, which challenges California’s ban on purchasing more than one handgun or semiautomatic, centerfire rifle in a 30-day period. The brief, which was requested by Judge William Hayes of the Southern District of California after the Supreme Court’s decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen, can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.

“No longer able to claim that this Court must ‘accord substantial deference’ to the legislature as it ‘experiment[s] with’ the fundamental rights of law-abiding people, Defendants must finally face the music and carry the burden they’ve had all along: to prove this regulation ‘is consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation’ using historically relevant evidence,” argues the brief. “They cannot do so, for the same essential reasons that New York could not justify its ‘special need’ condition for public carry licenses at issue in Bruen.”

“Today’s Brief reiterates what we’ve been arguing from the start of this case, even before the Bruen decision came down,” said FPC Director of Legal Operations Bill Sack. “And now California can’t hide the dearth of historical analogies for this sort of regulation on the acquisition of protected arms behind arguments of watered down interest balancing.” Read more

Gun Control

Field & Stream Rates SEVR Best Elk Broadhead of 2022

Field & Stream’s, Jace Bauserman, recently put broadheads to the test in a side-by-side match-up to rate a broadhead’s ability to take on elk. Relative newcomer, SEVR, rated as top overall choice for taking down some of North American’s toughest big game animals. “The popularity of these heads comes from their field-point-like accuracy and massive cut trauma—the swept-back blade cutting angle smashes organs and works in concert with the Lock-and-Pivot design to ensure maximum penetration,” said Bauserman. SEVR’s exclusive “locking and pivoting” blades allows broadheads to swivel around bone and eliminates penetration-robbing deflection—features especially crucial when taking on extra-large game like elk. SEVR is sold exclusively online and is currently running their annual fall sale at www.sevrbroadheads.com

Jace Bauserman is a full-time freelance outdoor writer who has been working with Field & Stream since 2017. Before going full-time freelance, Bauserman was the editor-in-chief of Bowhunting World and Archery Business magazines.

SEVR broadheads are available now and sold exclusively at sevrbroadheads.com

Archery

Michigan: hear the bugle call of elk viewing this month

Michigan is host to plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities, but one species stands tall: The elk. Fall is the best time to catch a glimpse of one of Michigan’s most sought-after viewing experiences.

Elk are massive animals that dwell within the rolling hills and hardwoods of northeast Michigan. Despite weighing between 400 and 900 pounds and standing 5 feet tall at the shoulder, they can be quite elusive throughout much of the year. However, during the fall breeding season, elk are more active while competing for mates. Elk congregate in open fields and bugle loudly this time of year, making for the perfect opportunity to view (and hear!) the wild herd.

The herd can be found only in areas throughout Otsego, Montmorency, Presque Isle and Cheboygan counties. For good locations to spot these stunning animals, there are 13 viewing areas accessible by road throughout the Pigeon River Country State Forest near Gaylord. Road conditions are variable depending on the weather.

When planning your visit, keep in mind that elk gather in forest openings at dawn and dusk to feed and socialize. It is best to arrive just before sunrise or sunset and make sure to listen carefully for males’ bugling. Bring your binoculars, spotting scope or camera for close-up viewing while remaining a safe distance away.

Visit the DNR wildlife viewing page to learn more about this unique Michigan tradition and where to do it.

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.

Wildlife

Whitetails Unlimited Commits $30,000 To Tree Stand Safety

Whitetails Unlimited has committed $30,000 towards it’s Tree Stand Safety Initiative where a Hunter Safety Systems Ultralite Flex harness and Muddy Safe-Line will be awarded via a free drawing at each WTU event this year. In addition to the safe-line and harness giveaways, WTU field staff also takes 5-10 minutes during each event to inform attendees of the importance of tree stand safety. Hunting from elevated stands of all types creates an inherently dangerous situation because of something that pulls on us every day – gravity. While tripping over a root or rock and hitting the ground can cause injury, most of these injuries are relatively minor. However, a fall from a much greater height – like a tree stand – can result in a much more serious or life-changing injury, or even death.

The numbers are surprising: one out of three hunters who use an elevated stand will be injured. Those are not good odds. Any time you are above ground, you are in danger and need to protect yourself. Hunters need to use a Full Body Fall Arrest Harness System (FBFAHS) that meets stringent industry standards. Single-strap belts and chest harnesses have proven to be unsafe; and in fact, single strap belts can themselves cause serious injuries or death.

But just wearing a harness is not enough. The second component in the safety system is a lifeline or safety line that attaches securely to the tree, and then connects to the hunter’s FBFAHS. This is not just a hunk of random rope, but an integral part of the safety system. It will support the hunter’s weight without breaking, and the inclusion of a Prusik knot allows a hunter to be connected during ascent and descent, as well as when sitting in the stand. The Prusik knot slides easily going up and down, but if there is a sudden fall, the knot tightens immediately, helping to prevent serious injury. Read more

Hunting

Anderson Manufacturing Adds Two “Legends” to Precision Series

Anderson’s Precision Series Lineup grows to a six-rifle collection with the addition of two .350 Legend options.

Hebron, KY – Anderson Manufacturing prepares for the oncoming hunting season by adding a .350 Legend option for their Sharpshooter and Marksman model within the AM-15 Precision Series.

The Sharpshooter is equipped with a 20’’ government profile barrel and the Marksman is fitted with an 18’’ government profile barrel, both capped off by the iconic A2 Flash Hider.

The two rifles operate on a direct impingement, carbine-length gas system with an Anderson Low-Profile Steel Gas Block at the helm. The Anderson barrel and gas system are sheathed by Anderson’s 15’’ MLOK Handguard allowing the shooter full customization of the front-end of these rifles.

Both rifles have a Schmid Tool Two-Stage Trigger with a crisp, four-and-a-half-pound pull and quick reset.

The .350 Legends are outfitted with Magpul furniture, including the MOE-K2 Pistol Grip and the fully adjustable PRS Lite Buttstock. The Magpul PRS Lite stock allows for shooter versatility with ambidextrous and quick-detach sling mounts in front and rear of stock, comb height and length of pull are fully adjustable, and the shooter can adjust the low-profile rubber butt-pad for height and cant. It’s lightweight, weighing in at 18.2 ounces. Read more

Firearms

Tokarev USA APEX Field Hunting Shotgun

Tokarev USA takes aim at the outdoors in a big way with 3.5” Model Auto-loading shotgun.

Knoxville, TN – Tokarev USA enters the hunting and sporting market with the introduction of their APEX Field Shotgun.

The APEX Field is a semi-automatic shotgun based on a reliable gas operated piston design with a 3.5” chamber. Available with a checkered Turkish Walnut furniture and matte black chrome finish, this shotgun is just at home in the field or at the range.

Available from the factory with either a 26” or 28” barrel that feature a machined ventilated rib and high-visibility fiber optic from sight. These drilled barrels readily accept the Benelli-Mobil choke tube system for consistent patterning that can be tuned to your load of choice. The APEX Field includes many standard features that make this firearm an exceptional value that is reliable as it is capable.

The APEX Field is available now with a MSRP of $379.99 Read more

Firearms

SAF Backs Federal Challenge of Illinois Transit CCW Ban

The Second Amendment Foundation announced today it is financially supporting a federal lawsuit filed by four Illinois residents who are challenging a ban on licensed concealed carry on Public Transportation under the state’s Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

Plaintiffs in the case are Benjamin Schoenthal, Mark Wroblewski, Joseph Vesel and Douglas Winston. They are all residents of counties in northern Illinois in the greater Chicago area. They are represented by attorney David Sigale of Wheaton, Ill. The case is known as Schoenthal v. Raoul.

Defendants are Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and State’s Attorneys Rick Amato (DeKalb County), Robert Berlin (DuPage County), Kimberly M. Foxx (Cook County) and Eric Rinehart (Lake County), all in their official capacities.

“We’re financially supporting this case because it is the right thing to do,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “All four plaintiffs in this case are law-abiding citizens who cannot exercise their fundamental rights as spelled out by three Supreme Court rulings, including SAF’s 2010 McDonald victory that nullified Chicago’s unconstitutional handgun ban. Read more

Gun Control, Self Defense

Licenses still available for Michigan fall turkey hunting season

Going afield to hunt for small game or scout for deer season? Pick up a fall turkey license to have a shot at harvesting a wild bird for Thanksgiving.

Remaining fall turkey licenses are on sale now for everyone.

Purchase a license online or over the counter wherever DNR licenses are sold. Download the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app to buy licenses, look up regulations, get notifications from DNR, and much more.

Turkey hunting ?

Turkey season bag limits, regulations and hours at Michigan.gov/Turkey.
Hunting
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