Image via WikipediaCheck out the Dig Deep blog for a great primer on shorebird feather wear and molt. There are some great animated images that show the effects of wear on feathers and the overall appearance of the birds. With southbound migration just beginning, its a good time to brush up on this. The internet is an incredible resource, whether you’re reading up on ornithological news or the latest from the PartyPoker site, and you’ll find that blogs like Dig Deep are invaluable as sources of veteran-level information.
Learning about shorebird molt allows you to make one of the easiest observations about the migration phenomenon; adults and immatures often migrate at different times, or use slightly different paths on their southbound flights
So, this fall when you are scanning through flocks of shorebirds, try to record numbers of adults and juveniles. Maybe you will find out something new about your favorite shorebird spots.
