Comments on: Plumage Basics http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/12/14/plumage-basics/ A Bird Blog with Kate St. John Mon, 20 May 2013 20:51:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/12/14/plumage-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-20843 Kate St. John Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:19:12 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=60375#comment-20843 This is a nice metaphor for spiritual rebirth but it is not true for eagles. Snopes.com is not sure where the myth began but it was promulgated by a slideshow that was first popular in 2007. Here’s the Snope report:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/eaglerebirth.asp

In reality eagles molt only a few feathers at a time. They don’t pluck them out by force.
According to Cornell’s Birds of North America Online (paraphrased), bald eagles’ annual molt begins in the spring with head and neck feathers. Body and flight-feathers molt later. Finally the tail feathers molt in late Jul–early Aug. Their molt is completed by late fall.

Thus, eagles molt once a year over a period of about 7 months. Their molt does not interfere with their daily activities. Their beaks are not involved.

]]> By: Kitty http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/12/14/plumage-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-20838 Kitty Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:26:53 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=60375#comment-20838 The first time I heard of an eagle molting was in Christian sermon. The minister used the molting process of the eagle in comparison to renewal in the life of a Christian. The molting process seems to be horrific and not scientifically documented since it’s done in private. The 12 steps of the molting eagle:
1.Over time, the beak and talons of an eagle become encrusted with calcium. Thus, they are not as sharp as they once were.
2.Their feathers become weighed down with dirt and oil. When these things take place, it obviously hinders their ability to hunt effectively. With all of the dirt and oil on its feathers, an eagle will begin to “whistle” while it is diving on its prey. With this sound coming from a bird, it makes hunting ineffective because the prey can hear them coming and have more time to run and hide before they are snatched up.
3. When an eagle gets to this point in its life, it will descend from the heights above and go to a rock below.
4. Through the molting process, the eagle begins to lose its feathers by plucking them out one by one.
5. Not only will an eagle pluck out all of its feathers, it will actually break off its beak by smashing it on a rock.
6. It will rub its talons on the rock to rub them down until they are nubbins.
7. Its vision is even said to be impaired, so they don’t have as keen as eyesight as before.
8. At this point, the eagle becomes weak, vulnerable, and defenseless.
9. Many eagles die during this point in life because they can not hunt for themselves and they can’t protect themselves against predators.
10. During this time, many eagles become dependent on their companion eagles for sustenance and nourishment.
11. If they can survive the shame and exposure that molting produces, then the stripping process will pave the way for the eagle to become greater and stronger than it was before.
12. It is during this time that a wonderful thing happens to those who survive. Their feathers, beak, and talons begin to grow back with greater vigor than ever before. Their beak and talons will be as sharp as ever and they will once again take to the skies. They will have acquired revitalized youth that they hadn’t possessed since they were younger.
Is this true or just an Christian analogy?

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