I posted this on another forum and got over 80 looks but no replies, so I am hoping someone will offer an opinion here.
Looking over old photos, I came across this one of a winter adult Ring-billed Gull, taken in Palo Alto, California, in 2009, which shows fine lines across many of the feathers. These are most visible on the mantle, but also can be seen on the flanks and breast. I am wondering if anyone can tell me anything about them. I know that feathers can develop stress lines during development as a result of variations in nutrition or other stress - is that what we are seeing here? This is not something I see on my other photos, certainly not to this extent.
Looking over old photos, I came across this one of a winter adult Ring-billed Gull, taken in Palo Alto, California, in 2009, which shows fine lines across many of the feathers. These are most visible on the mantle, but also can be seen on the flanks and breast. I am wondering if anyone can tell me anything about them. I know that feathers can develop stress lines during development as a result of variations in nutrition or other stress - is that what we are seeing here? This is not something I see on my other photos, certainly not to this extent.
