BirdNote Daily A Library of Feathers
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Nov 16, 2025 Esha Munshi, co-founder of the Feather Library, shares her journey in creating a digital archive showcasing feathers of over 100 Indian bird species. Inspired by the curiosity of feather collectors, the library features stunning high-resolution images, including the intricate details of species like the Indian pitta. Esha delves into her training at Cornell for specimen preparation and discusses the sourcing of feathers from rescue birds. This innovative project offers a treasure trove for researchers and bird enthusiasts alike.
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Curiosity Sparks The Project
- Esha Munshi notes that people commonly pick up feathers and wonder which bird they came from.
- This curiosity motivated creating a public resource to answer those questions.
Origin And Preparation Of The Feather Library
- Esha Munshi co-founded the Feather Library to document feathers of Indian birds with high-resolution photos.
- She learned specimen preparation under Vanya Rova at Cornell Lab of Ornithology and uses rescued birds that didn't survive.
Early Collection And Notable Species
- The Feather Library launched in 2021 and initially documents about 90 Indian bird species with detailed images.
- Examples include the brilliantly colored Indian pitta and the wispy tail feathers of the wire-tailed swallow.