Florican is not as "impossible" to obtain as Kori Bustard, but it is uncommon enough to make substitution necessary most of the time. The base for this feather is white turkey tail feathers, goose shoulders, or any similar material. These feathers often have lengths long enough to allow 'right' and 'left' wing fibers from the same feather. Wash the turkey feather, then dye it a moderate tan shade in RIT (#16). This gives the base color of the feather. If you wish to have a more orange color add a small amount of Orange to the tan dye bath (natural color ranges from true tan to pale tannishorange). The barring on the feather is created by the use of a HI-IMPACT brown marking pen. The bars on the Florican feather sweep downward from the tip of the feather in an inverted "V", running at right angles (more or less) to the feather fibers. To get the correct angle and width of the dark brown bars I placed a nicely marked Flori(Mn feather under a small pane of glass and outlined the barring from the leading edge of the feather. I flipped the glass over and copied the bars again in mirror image. I then placed the dyed turkey feather on the glass (the outline showed through the feather) and copied the bars with a brown marker onto the best side of the turkey feather. The water based color did not. bleed into the feather fibers, and did not mat. the flues (such matting would prevent. marrying of the fibers). A brief steaming on the back side (only).... instant., almost Florican (right and lefts) from one feather.

I have included with this material the outline template used for this feather, (the arrow on the template points to the top of the feather. There is also a copy of a natural feather so you can see the original barring.)You may wish to create your own, using a pattern with finer barring in addition to the bold. I have found that this patterning isn't necessary to make the substitute look "real". If the feather you mark needs a second application of the brown marker you may find the fibers will mat. Even in Kelson type wing this is not a problem, as long as you "scruff" the matted fibers so they will marry. I also suggest that you do not use a feather section that has a brown mark on the tip. Unmarked tip fibers marry better.