Pigeon Feather under the Foldscope 🔬

Sep 25, 2023 • 12:24 PM UTC

Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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Animals

Dinesh S

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Hello there! Ever thought about what's inside a pigeon's feather?

Well, today, using my Foldscope, I looked really closely at these feathers. You know the ones that cover a pigeon's body? They're called contour feathers, and I was especially interested in those long ones at the tail, called retrices.

Now, let me tell you what I found. Picture a feather like a tiny tree branch. It has a main part called the rachis, which tapers down like a tree trunk. On each side of this trunk, there are branches called barbs. These branches are pretty special because they have even tinier branches called barbules. At the end of these tiny branches are little hooks called hamuli.

Here's something cool: feathers near the base don't have those little hooks and are more relaxed in structure. Sometimes, birds have a bonus tiny feather growing from the main one called an aftershaft.

Now, the not-so-cool part I discovered: inhaling tiny bits of these feathers, especially those retrices, could make people sick with lung problems like pneumonia.

But feathers are awesome! They're not just pretty; they're like nature's secret superpower. They keep birds warm, dry, and even help them fly.

As I wrap up this adventure, remember to keep your curiosity alive and explore the amazing world around you!..