What's in a feather?

 What's in a feather?

Symbolism as some said, as I chanced upon this one on an early morning walk up the bukit, just as the new Chinese Year of the Green Wood Snake is just around the corner.

Symbol of renewal, new growth, for this bird owner has presumably shed naturally over the night for the feather to still appear pristine in the morning.

Not a small one by any means, it measures about 28cm which suggests that it could belong to a large bird, perhaps a raptor.

source: www.featherbase.info

The closest clue to identifying its owner is a comparison with similar feathers of an Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus).

And I would dare to hazard a guess that it could be that of the Crested Honey-buzzard that has been sighted lately in the vicinity.

A similar thrill was registered years back in 2017 following a fateful encounter with a pair of Brahminy Kites (https://rimbakiara.blogspot.com/2017/04/a-tragic-sight.html).

And almost 7 years later, the Kite's feather remains still almost as immaculate as the day I picked it up (and sans any preservation measure since then)!