# Imping

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{{Short description|Practice used to fix broken feathers of a bird}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
[[File:Falco cherrug Qatar.jpg|thumb|A [saker falcon](/source/saker_falcon) used for [falconry](/source/falconry) purposes in [Qatar](/source/Qatar). Imping is often practiced in falconry.]]
'''Imping''' is the practice of replacing a broken [feather](/source/feather) of a [bird](/source/bird) with another one, referred to as a donor feather, from a previous [molt](/source/Moulting) of the same animal or from another animal of the same or of a different species.<ref name=":0">{{cite conference|url=https://www.awrc.org.au/uploads/5/8/6/6/5866843/15_melanie_barsony_the_art_of_imping_melanie_final.pdf|title=The art of imping. The dynamics of raptor feather repair|first=Melanie|last=Barsony|conference=Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference|publisher=[University of Sydney](/source/University_of_Sydney)|pages=1–11|year=2018}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.audubon.org/news/an-introduction-imping-ancient-art-feather-mending|title=An introduction to imping, the ancient art of feather-mending|first=Andy|last=McGlashen|newspaper=[Audubon](/source/Audubon)|date=22 December 2017}}</ref> Imping is mostly done on [birds of prey](/source/Bird_of_prey) (specially [falcon](/source/falcon)s used for [falconry](/source/falconry)), although it is also applied on [seabird](/source/seabird)s, [corvids](/source/Corvidae) and other types of birds on [rehabilitation centers](/source/Wildlife_rehabilitation). It is not painful for birds, since feathers are dead structures made of [keratin](/source/keratin), which is what human [hair](/source/hair) and [nails](/source/Nail_(anatomy)) are made of.<ref name=":1" /> Imping is only possible in partially broken or damaged feathers, not in feathers that have fallen off completely, and is only used for [flight feather](/source/flight_feather)s on the [wing](/source/Bird_wing) and for [rectrices](/source/rectrices) (feathers of the tail). It also can not be applied on [blood feather](/source/blood_feather)s (developing feathers) until they are fully grown and do not have a blood supply within them anymore.<ref name=":0" />

Imping is done by adding a small so-called imping needle within both the shaft of the remaining part of the broken feather and the shaft of its new replacement with the help of [adhesive](/source/adhesive). In the past, [bamboo](/source/bamboo) and [metal](/source/metal) were used as imping needles, and [rust](/source/rust) was used as a bonding agent. Today, imping needles are commonly made of [fiberglass](/source/fiberglass) or [graphite](/source/graphite) and [epoxy](/source/epoxy) is used as adherent.<ref name=":1" /> After some time, the imped feather will naturally molt out and a new one will grow in its place. Imping can help a wild bird that would otherwise have to remain a considerable period in care until a new healthy feather is grown. However, imping requires precision and skill, as an incorrectly imped feather can cause [bruising](/source/bruising) and [irritation](/source/irritation) and affect the bird after its release, potentially even becoming detrimental to its own survival.<ref name=":0" />

Imping is an ancient practice, and the earliest document where it is mentioned is in the [Holy Roman Emperor](/source/Holy_Roman_Emperor) [Frederick II](/source/Frederick_II%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor)'s book ''The Art of Falconry'' (originally in [Latin](/source/Latin)), where he uses the term ''imponere'' ("to fix" or "to place upon") to refer to it. The English writer [William Shakespeare](/source/William_Shakespeare) also made a reference to imping on his play ''[Richard II](/source/Richard_II_(play))'', where a noble incites his companions to rebel against the king to "imp out our drooping country's broken wing".<ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Wiktionary-inline|imping}}

{{Birds}}

Category:Feathers
Category:Bird flight
Category:Falconry

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Imping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imping) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imping?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.