Injured D.C. Snowy Owl Gets “New” Wing | National Geographic

this bird was sent to us from Washington

this bird was sent to us from Washington DC

DC

DC specifically for our expertise in

specifically for our expertise in

specifically for our expertise in replacing damaged feathers and that

replacing damaged feathers and that

replacing damaged feathers and that process is called imping it’s an age-old

process is called imping it’s an age-old

process is called imping it’s an age-old process that falconers created hundreds

process that falconers created hundreds

process that falconers created hundreds of years ago and we’ve of course adapted

of years ago and we’ve of course adapted

of years ago and we’ve of course adapted it and used a little bit more modern

it and used a little bit more modern

it and used a little bit more modern tools and technology to get the job done

tools and technology to get the job done

tools and technology to get the job done so basically how imping works is that

so basically how imping works is that

so basically how imping works is that feather shafts are hollow and so you can

feather shafts are hollow and so you can

feather shafts are hollow and so you can use that to your advantage to insert a

use that to your advantage to insert a

use that to your advantage to insert a pin into the part of the shaft that

pin into the part of the shaft that

pin into the part of the shaft that remains on the bird and then into the

remains on the bird and then into the

remains on the bird and then into the shaft of a new feather that you want to

shaft of a new feather that you want to

shaft of a new feather that you want to insert so it kind of connects them in a

insert so it kind of connects them in a

insert so it kind of connects them in a pin like fashion and so what we use is

pin like fashion and so what we use is

pin like fashion and so what we use is bamboo bamboo is like the connector that

bamboo bamboo is like the connector that

bamboo bamboo is like the connector that connects the new feather to the shaft

connects the new feather to the shaft

connects the new feather to the shaft that remains on the bird and then we

that remains on the bird and then we

that remains on the bird and then we Whittle it so that it fits nice and snug

Whittle it so that it fits nice and snug

Whittle it so that it fits nice and snug in the feather shaft and then we glue it

in the feather shaft and then we glue it

in the feather shaft and then we glue it in at the end and basically these

in at the end and basically these

in at the end and basically these feathers that I’ve emp’d will stay in

feathers that I’ve emp’d will stay in

feathers that I’ve emp’d will stay in the bird until it goes into a natural

the bird until it goes into a natural

the bird until it goes into a natural mold and they will be just as functional

mold and they will be just as functional

mold and they will be just as functional allowing the bird to fly and catch food

allowing the bird to fly and catch food

allowing the bird to fly and catch food and do everything it needs to do to

and do everything it needs to do to

and do everything it needs to do to survive