Balding Jackdaw

[Heather Buttle]

Hi All,
I've a had a Jackdaw ('Dee') visiting my garden for over
a year now (amongst others). When he/she first showed up the top of the
head was missing feathers (a bald spot the size of a new fifty pence
piece). Originally, I was concerned Dee had some horrible disease, but
over the weeks and months Dee continued to show up with no deterioation
in condition, though the bald spot remained. Over the weekend it rained
fairly hard and when Dee came to the garden I could see that where the
feathers were wet on the back there was a general thinning and I could
see through to the skin. Having speculated for some time as to what had
caused the bald spot (e.g., burning the head in a chimney, being picked
on by other birds) I am now wondering if it is a symptom of old age. Is
this possible? Do 'elderly' birds loose their feathers, or is it just a
romantic notion of mine?

Secondly, can anyone recomend a good monograph on Jacdaws? I've seen
the Poysner ones on Magpies and Crows, but would like something specific
on Jackdaws.

Cheers,
Heather

[Chris Mead]

Baldness of this sort is often due to injury and the bird may have
skinned the top of its head hitting wires or some such. This is
something that will not get better if it has not recovered in the
first few weeks.

> Secondly, can anyone recomend a good monograph on Jacdaws? I've seen
> the Poysner ones on Magpies and Crows, but would like something specific
> on Jackdaws.

> Cheers,
> Heather

The best book is actually about behaviour by Kpnrad Lorenz - King
Solomon's Ring published 30 years ago. General crow books are Crows
by Franklin Coombs and Crows fo the World by Derek Goodwin.

All the best

--
Chris Mead
Hilborough, Norfolk
chris...@zetnet.co.uk

[keith dancey]

In article A681...@bangor.ac.uk, Heather Buttle <psp...@bangor.ac.uk> writes:

> I am now wondering if it is a symptom of old age...

I would have thought a skin-born infection or infestation.

Cheers,

keith

[mark_et...@my-deja.com]

Heather Buttle wrote:

[snip]

> Do 'elderly' birds loose their feathers, or is it just a
> romantic notion of mine?
>

I wish someone would get romantic about *my* balding feathers.

<sniffle>
Mark

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.