Feathers have been collected from shorebirds from 2006-2019 across Alaska and Canada. To determine the impact of feather pulling on subsequent feather growth, we identified and scanned feathers that were collected in subsequent years. In this case, we restricted our dataset to samples in which the same feathers were pulled in subsequent years and for those collected only after their initial pulling (i.e., year x and x+1). These scans will then be used to look at size and shape in comparison to original feathers to determine if pulling of feathers has any impact on growth of feathers in the following year.
The data providers have invested considerable effort in QA/QC, but it is possible that undetected errors remain. It is strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data to evaluate data set limitations, restrictions, or intended use. The originators of this dataset shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
Potential users of these data should first contact the data authors listed below, as potential biases may occur within the data depending on the intended use.
General field methods are available in the feather scan protocol file.
If additional information is needed for individuals which had feathers pulled, please refer to the shorebird_sample_inventory archive found at file:\ifw7ro-file.fws.doi.net\datamgt\mbm\mbmsh_007_Shorebird_sample_inventory.
