In Pipestone Strong, the middle-grade historical fiction book I’m writing, a Cheyenne grandfather finds and collects wild bird feathers. After identifying the bird species, he dips the tip of a feather in ink and draws an illustration of the bird in his sketch pad.
The first bird in Grandfather’s sketch book is a Mourning Dove. Showing the drawing to his grandson, he said he found the feather on the ground under the large sunflower plants in the garden, where the mourning doves feast on fallen seeds. He never killed a bird for its feathers. His words were “I never harvest a bird I don’t intend to eat.”
Story aside, I’ve never seen anyone illustrate a bird using a feather of the same species as a pen, but how super, keen or swell would that be!? Super, swell and keen. That’s what the cool kids said in 1947, the year my book, Pipestone Strong takes place.
I’m no artist, so I won’t attempt to draw a wild bird of any kind. I’ll share the idea and write about someone else doing it.
Having a bird feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds in our yard, acquainted me with various birds in our area and their feathers, that sometimes get left behind. That’s how I learned to identify mourning dove feathers.
Sunday came a day or two after writing the scene where Grandfather shows his feather and bird illustrations to his grandson, Runt. Crossing the church parking lot that morning, I noticed a feather, then two. So, I took a minute and looked around. Most were solid gray. Then I noticed several with dark gray at the bottom, then the unique black “W” pattern in the middle and cream coloring at the top and instantly knew the feathers belonged to a Mourning Dove.
While I hoped the docile cooing dove escaped unharmed, it was a satisfying moment for me to find the feathers and instantly recognize the bird species. As another family drove their car into the parking lot, I swooped up the feathers with delight, offered them a smile, but no apology for admiring and saving the handsome Mourning Dove feathers.
If I’ve inspired you to look for bird feathers–ponds, parks, fields, barnyards and beneath bird feeders are great places to search. If you dip one in ink and draw with it, let me know. Better yet, I’d love to see your creative feather project. And if you haven't already, join my list, let's keep in touch.
By Deborah S. Tukua