Use of ultraviolet light as an aid in age classification of owls.(Short Communications)(Report): An article from: The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Book Details
PublisherWilson Ornithological Society
ISBN / ASINB0057LZIWC
ISBN-13978B0057LZIW6
AvailabilityAvailable for download now
Sales Rank10,467,116
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
This digital document is an article from The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, published by Wilson Ornithological Society on June 1, 2011. The length of the article is 2926 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
From the author: Use of ultraviolet (UV) light, which causes porphyrin pigments in feathers of some birds to fluoresce, provides a simple, effective means of distinguishing multiple generations of flight feathers in owls. This permits easier and more accurate classification of age of adult owls. This lighting technique has been used extensively with Barn Owls (Tyto alba) and Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) and works well on a variety of owl species at night in the field, and should have wide applicability among owl researchers. The relative ages of the feathers can be easily distinguished by the intensity of fluorescence they exhibit when the ventral surfaces of primaries and secondaries are exposed to UV (black) light. This allows rapid and accurate assessment of molt and, in turn, the assignment of an age classification for the owl. Received 10 August 2009. Accepted 9 January 2011.
Citation Details
Title: Use of ultraviolet light as an aid in age classification of owls.(Short Communications)(Report)
Author: C. Scott Weidensaul
Publication:The Wilson Journal of Ornithology (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
Volume: 123 Issue: 2 Page: 373(5)
Article Type: Report
Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning
From the author: Use of ultraviolet (UV) light, which causes porphyrin pigments in feathers of some birds to fluoresce, provides a simple, effective means of distinguishing multiple generations of flight feathers in owls. This permits easier and more accurate classification of age of adult owls. This lighting technique has been used extensively with Barn Owls (Tyto alba) and Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) and works well on a variety of owl species at night in the field, and should have wide applicability among owl researchers. The relative ages of the feathers can be easily distinguished by the intensity of fluorescence they exhibit when the ventral surfaces of primaries and secondaries are exposed to UV (black) light. This allows rapid and accurate assessment of molt and, in turn, the assignment of an age classification for the owl. Received 10 August 2009. Accepted 9 January 2011.
Citation Details
Title: Use of ultraviolet light as an aid in age classification of owls.(Short Communications)(Report)
Author: C. Scott Weidensaul
Publication:The Wilson Journal of Ornithology (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
Volume: 123 Issue: 2 Page: 373(5)
Article Type: Report
Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning
