OldmanoftheSea:
been doing a bit with the feathers that I find locally
Yes. Lots of my materials are indeed roadkill. A near last straw for Cookie occurred one day when I began backing up the highway to scavenage a near flattened but still attractive Persian cat. I went as far as opening the driver's side door, but left the poor beast in place.
LMAO
One of my friends that ties flies told me I would start scavenging road kill when I start tying flies.
I told him I didn't think I would be doing that due to the amount of road kill I ate when I was young and lived with my hillbilly relatives in Arkansas.
hmm never thought about tying a cat-tail...I find eagle, gull and osprey feathers kayaking and the occasional wood pecker or song bird wandering about the woods..
side note:
a pocket full of songbird feathers makes for warm hands on a cold day..