Laurie Brice, Osprey losing a primary feather mid flight.
It is getting to be that time of year around here when the nestlings have left and the birds are growing new feathers which are pushing out the old ones. You might imagine that when a bird loses one of its main flight feathers, that flying becomes a little more difficult. The birds have different strategies about this that enables them to continue to fly relatively well. Most birds, when they shed a major wing or tail feather, will shed one from the exact opposite side, sometimes almost simultaneously and usually at least within a few days. Then they aren’t lopsided in flight. New feathers grow in at least half-way before the next set of two feathers are shed. This way, a bird can continue to get food, escape from predators, and I like to think, enjoy playing around with their amazing ability of flight.