The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read
TIDBITS® CONSIDERS FEATHERS
by Janet Spencer
Birds are one of the most successful vertebrates on earth. There are about 6,500 species of mammals, 32,000 species of fish, 8,800 species of amphibians, 10,000 species of reptiles, and around 11,000 species of birds. All birds have several things in common: wings, beaks, eggs, and feathers. Each species of bird has its own unique feather pattern, shape, and color. Come along with Tidbits as we consider feathers!
THE BASIC FACTS
• Feathers serve many purposes: insulation, mating, camouflage, nesting material, and maneuverability for flight. Think of the bird's plumage as an all-purpose coat, serving as a raincoat, winter jacket, body armor, sunscreen, and fashion statement.
• Feathers likely evolved from reptilian scales around 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. The earliest known feathered dinosaurs, such as Archaeopteryx, had feathers similar to modern birds. Even today, birds still have reptilian-style scales on the lower parts of their legs and feet.
• Every feather on a bird's body is controlled by a network of muscles located in the feather's follicles. The muscles can pull the feathers into a tight mat to protect against rain and cold, fluff them for better insulation, spread them for a mating display, or fan them out for better flight. (cont)
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FEATHER FACTS
(cont)
• Feathers are made of keratin, a fibrous protein. Hair, horns, hooves, claws, fingernails, beaks, porcupine quills, and whale baleen are also made of keratin.
• Feathers, like hair and fingernails, are dead structures that do not have nerves and cannot repair themselves when damaged. Hair and fingernails grow continuously, but feathers grow to completion and then stop, and must be replaced when worn out. When feathers first grow in, they have a blood supply, but mature feathers do not.
• Most birds condition their feathers by distributing an oily wax from a gland near the base of their tail, using their beak to preen. The wax keeps the feathers waterproof and inhibits bacteria and pests. Other birds, such as owls and pigeons, don't have this gland but rely instead on specialized downy feathers that disintegrate into a powder that sifts throughout the feathers.
• Birds replace their old and damaged feathers by molting, usually once a year. Some birds, such as puffins, drop all of their feathers at once. They are unable to fly and can only swim until the new feathers grow in several weeks later. Other birds molt in stages, staggering the loss of feathers to prevent the bird from becoming completely vulnerable.
• When ptarmigans molt, the coloring of their feathers changes according to the season in order to offer maximum camouflage, changing from all white in winter to all brown in summer.
• The words plume, plumage, and pluck all spring from the same Old English word.
• A parrot has green feathers to blend in with the jungle's foliage. An owl's drab plumage looks exactly like tree bark. A penguin's tuxedo coloring, with white on the belly and black on the back, hides them from predators when swimming. (cont)
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FEATHER FACTS
(cont)
• Feathers are used for communication, though different birds have different languages, even for identical gestures. Birds such as blue jays and cardinals use their trademark pointy crests when communicating with other birds. They raise their head feathers to intimidate intruders or to indicate agitation. The crest lays flat when the bird is calm. During courtship, a male wood duck raises its colorful crest in order to attract a mate. California quails have a top knot protruding from their forehead made of a cluster of six feathers. When males fight for dominance, the winner raises his top knot and the loser flattens his.
FEATHER DENSITY
• The number of feathers on a bird varies by species. A hummingbird has the least, with around 1,000 feathers; a small songbird, 1,500–3,000; a turkey has about 3,500; a bird of prey, 5,000–8,000; and a swan, up to 25,000. An emperor penguin has the most with about 80,000 feathers.
• Although they have the least number of feathers, hummingbirds have the greatest ratio of feathers to body size of any bird.
• Penguin feathers are short but extremely dense, with between 60 and 100 feathers per square inch, providing maximum insulation.
• Most birds have more feathers in winter than in summer.
• The bones of most birds are hollow, making them lightweight to assist in flying. Therefore, the feathers generally weigh more than the bones. A frigate bird has a 7-foot (2.1 m) wingspan, yet its skeleton weighs less than its feathers. When measured, one eagle was found to have feathers that comprised 17% of its body weight, while its skeleton accounted for only 7%.
• Peacock feathers are around 6 feet (1.8 m) long. (cont)
FEATHER SPECIALIZATION
• Owls have specialized feathers that protrude more than unusual. This design dissipates airflow as it flies, giving owls the edge of complete silence as they glide stealthily through the forest.
• Many arctic birds have black feathers, which absorb heat from the sun. If temperatures get too high, the bird can overheat.
• Several species of birds that live in New Guinea eat poisonous beetles without suffering ill effects. The neurotoxins they ingest collect in their feathers and skin, making the birds poisonous. These are the only birds on the planet that are poisonous.
• The male sand grouse, which inhabits desert areas in southwest Africa, fills its specialized belly feathers with water and transports it back to the nest for its chicks to drink.
• Down is composed of specialized feathers that lie against the bird's skin and its outer feathers that retain heat. When eider ducks are ready to lay eggs, the female molts all of the down on her breast and uses it to line her nest. This helps keep the eggs warm through the Arctic spring. After the chicks fledge, local residents collect the eiderdown from the empty nests. Eiderdown is used for coats, pillows, and blankets. It is the lightest, warmest substance known, and is so efficient at retaining heat and repelling water that humans have yet to create anything better. About 75% of the world's supply comes from Iceland, where the birds are protected and down collection is carefully regulated.
THE FINALFEATHER
• The world's most expensive feather is a black and white tail feather from an extinct New Zealand bird called a huia. In 2024 it sold at auction for $28,000. The last confirmed sighting of a huia was in 1907; it was hunted to extinction for its feathers.
HENSLER’S HENSLER’S
TOWN & COUNTRY TOWN & COUNTRY MARKET
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Buona Pasqua! Celebrating Easter with Italian Easter Pie
In Italian traditions, Easter marks the end of Lent with indulgent dishes like the Italian Easter Pie, or pizza rustica. This savory pie, like a deep-dish quiche, combines cured meats and cheeses wrapped in a buttery crust a true festive treat.
One of the joys of pizza rustica is its versatility. Traditionally made with prosciutto, mortadella and pancetta, you can create a more frugal version by swapping expensive deli meats for budget-friendly options like ham, salami, sausage and pepperoni.
This dish is a labor of love, but you can simplify it by omitting some extras. Start with a crust of flour, butter and egg, then fill it with ricotta, cured meats, spinach and cheese. As it bakes, the savory aromas will fill your kitchen.
ITALIAN EASTER PIE
Yield: 6-8 servings
Total Time: 4 hours
For the crust:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
12 tablespoons (11/2 sticks) cold butter, cubed
1 large egg
7 tablespoons ice water
For the filling:
1/2 pound (8 ounces) sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
4 large eggs, divided
1/8 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
1/2 pound (8 ounces) low-moisture mozzarella cheese, cubed
1/2 pound (8 ounces) ham, diced
1/8 pound (2 ounces) pepperoni
1/8 pound (2 ounces) salami
1 cup (about 7 ounces) roasted red bell peppers
1 (16 ounce) bag frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 cup grated Parmesan and/or Romano cheese
To make the crust:
In a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, combine flour, salt and sugar. Add butter and pulse until it looks like coarse sand. Add the egg, pulsing and adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a shaggy dough forms. Place the loose dough on a large piece of plastic wrap and bring the dough together (squish it!). Divide the dough into two pieces: two-thirds for the bottom crust and one-third for the top crust. Wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can make the crusts up to a day in advance. Prepare the Filling and Assemble the Pie Preheat oven to 350 F. Roll out the dough for the bottom crust and fit into a 9-inch springform pan, then chill while you prepare the filling. Brown the Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles until fully cooked and browned, about 5-7 minutes.
Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, whisk ricotta, 3 eggs and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Add mozzarella, ham, pepperoni and salami, stirring to combine. Place the ricotta mixture in the prepared bottom crust. Top the ricotta with the Italian sausage. Measure 1 cup of roasted red peppers, drain and pat dry with paper towels; layer over the sausage, top that with spinach and sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over the spinach. Roll out the remaining dough, place over filling, seal and cut to vent. Brush with remaining beaten egg.
Bake until golden, about 1 hour. Let cool for 1
1. What genus of birds is the most colorful?
2. What single bird species is North America’s most colorful?
hour then remove the outer part of the springform pan. Now you can refrigerate and serve it cold or let it cool and serve at room temperature. To save money, you can easily roast your own red peppers just head to the Divas On A Dime website for step-by-step instructions at DivasOnADime.com!
This Easter, embrace Italian hospitality with a slice of pizza rustica a dish that honors both family and food. Buona Pasqua a tutti! ***
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
This homemade Italian Easter Pie is the perfect way to celebrate with family and friends.
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DUMB CRIMINALS
• 48-year-old Melissa Peters was preparing to take her 13-year-old son to school early on the morning of March 27, 2014, in Omaha, Nebraska. Just as she prepared to pull out of the driveway, a 17-year-old kid rushed up to her car, pointed a gun, and ordered her to exit the vehicle. Peters and her son both jumped out of the car, standing dumbfounded in front of their home, waiting to see how the carjacking would go down. The result: nothing. The robber was completely confused upon encountering his very first manual car, having never operated a stick shift As Peters stood by calling 911, the kid turned the lights on and off, flipped the windshield wipers on, and messed with other buttons randomly. He jumped out of the car and ran once the cops showed up 7 minutes later. It was a short foot chase and a long incarceration.
• Matthew Allan McNelly and Joey Lee Miller decided to burglarize an apartment in Carroll, Iowa, in September of 2012. They agreed they needed disguises. However, they did not have any Halloween masks, or pantyhose to pull over their faces, or even a ski mask hat. They solved the problem with a Sharpie marker, using it to draw on their faces. McNelly gave himself a Batman mask, and Miller drew a full beard and mustache. They were captured running from the scene of the crime after someone reported an attempted break-in. Their mug shots went viral and continue to circulate through the internet.
• In December of 2019, 26-year-old Adam Valle took his bolt cutters to the entryway of the Gladstone Police Department in Oregon and began stealing a bike. Shocked cops watched from the security cameras inside. Valle was tased, handcuffed, and charged with theft. (Continued page #7)
AdviceAbout Bumps, Ticks, Scrapes and Cuts
DEAR PAW'S COR-
NER: I have an adventurous Shorthaired Pointer named "Gordie" who loves running through the woods behind my home while I walk behind him. He occasionally comes back with scrapes and cuts. I want to share with your readers how I take care of his minor injuries, and when a vet visit is necessary.
Most of the time, Gordie's scrapes are very minor. I always check him when we get back to the house, because he can easily pick up ticks, too. I remove any clinging ticks and kill them right away. I check the pads under his paws, and run my hand along his coat to remove burrs. If he has a scrape on his side or paw, I clean it with warm water, disinfect it and put some antibiotic ointment on it. If it's a place where he can scratch or lick, I cover it with a gauze bandage for a couple of days.
Last month, Gordie limped over to me with a deep laceration on his left front paw pad. Fortunately, we weren't far from home. I carried him inside and gently looked at the injury. It wasn't bleeding too badly, but the cut was very deep, and trying to clean it was very painful for him. This time, we had to see the vet. I wrapped his paw in gauze to protect it and off we went. The vet stitched him up, and Gordie has to wear a lampshade collar for the next week or so to let it heal.
I hope my story will be helpful to readers. Tyler N., Dracut, Massachusetts
DEAR TYLER: This is very helpful! Best wishes to Gordie for a speedy recovery. Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
DUMB CRIMINALS (cont.)
• In January of 2007, an 18-year-old miscreant named Peter Addison and two of his buddies went on a drunken rampage. The trio stormed through a closed summer camp for underprivileged children. They smashed stuff, set off fire extinguishers, broke into a camp store, played baseball using a bat and some crockery, and plastered the place with graffiti including their gang affiliation. To make things easier for the police, Peter Addison used a Sharpie marker to write “PETER ADDISON WAS HERE” on various walls. When police used this clue to track him down, he was wearing a stolen tshirt bearing the camp’s logo when he answered the door.
• In 2021, 19-year-old Hannah Sabata of Stromsburg, Nebraska, decided to rob a bank. She had several reasons for this. First, she had student loans. Second, she needed a shopping spree. Third, she was mad at the government for various reasons, including losing custody of her baby. Finally, she needed fodder for her YouTube channel. Hannah Sabata walked into the Cornerstone Bank in Waco, Nebraska, on November 27 and handed over a note. She walked out with $6,000 in cash and drove off in a stolen car. Next, Sabata went home to count her money. On November 28, she uploaded a video to her YouTube channel boasting about her exploits and waving the stack of cash at the camera. “This was the best day of my life!” she exclaimed. Her followers tipped off the police. She was arrested that same day, wearing the same clothes she wore during the robbery. Police recovered all but $30 of the stolen money, and the stolen car was parked nearby. She was sentenced to 11-22 years and is still incarcerated in the Nebraska Correctional Center today.
* Yard sale, tag sale, garage sale ... whatever you call it, if you do it right, you can walk away with a decluttered home and a nifty bit of cash, too. Here's my tip: Advertise, advertise, advertise on local message boards and websites, as well as using signs. The more people you drive to your sale, the more you are likely to sell.
* "When you put jewelry out at a garage sale, you can display it for better results. Use a window screen for paired earrings, or maybe a tie rack for necklaces. I sell a lot of costume stuff in my sales. Kids especially like it." R.G. in Mississippi
* One way to organize a tag sale is to group items in bins by price. Or have a dollar table. If you have lots of clothes, you might price it by the piece and have good price breaks for people who buy lots of pieces.
* "Put well-marked sports equipment in a place that can be viewed by passersby. Make attractive displays of toys and tools as
well. People are always looking for these." M.H. in Alabama
* Not sure how to price your items for resale? The rule for yard sales is as follows: For items that are new, still with tags or in original, unopened packaging, price it as 50% off retail. For items that are in good working condition, with all parts and accessories, mark it 30% of what you paid. Other items should be marked down to 20% of what you paid. Be honest with yourself. If something is just usable, but not really worth a buck, put it in a "free" bin. Your customers will be grateful, and you might make an additional sale.
* Be sure to have plastic bags on hand. Boxes and newspaper are handy if you are selling any dishes or glassware, too.
Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
