Fowl Feathered Review 202

“To all painters: let’s go where the computer cannot go.”
-- Jack Whitten, Artist

“Kay heaved a tremulous sigh.”
--Eando Binder,
Adam Link’s Vengeance, Amazing Stories, February 1940

Dear Esteemed Readers of the Fowl Feathered Review,

In this edition, we embark upon a most peculiar and feathered foray into the arcane art of piscatorial seduction—specifically, the curious practice of using chicken to catch fish. Yes, you read that correctly. Picture, if you will, a plucky poultry—perhaps a rooster with a strut as confident as a Shakespearean villain—being employed as a baiting marvel in the watery depths. But, before you dismiss this as poultry absurdity, consider the quill—oh, the quill!—of this narrative, for it is the very feather that lends both its finesse and its folly to our tale.

Now, the use of chicken as a fish-catcher is not merely a matter of tossing a bird into the river and hoping for a bite; rather, it is an artful science, a delicate dance of tradition and ingenuity. In some regions, especially where resources are as sparse as hen’s teeth, fishermen have long employed the humble chicken as an offering—an enticing, aromatic lure—by suspending a freshly slaughtered bird beneath their boats, or by fashioning out of its feathers a series of shimmering, enticing decoys. The theory is simple: the scent and movement of the bird, or its feathers, mimic the natural prey—perhaps a hapless insect or a small aquatic creature—thus coaxing the piscatorial denizens to strike.

But wait! The feathered intrigue does not end there. The quill—oh, the quill!—serves as the very instrument of the piscator’s craft. Fishermen, in their madcap pursuit of the perfect fly, have historically fashioned their artificial lures from chicken feathers—particularly those from the rooster’s tail and saddle. These delicate, iridescent plumes are woven into tiny, intricate flies that mimic the fluttering life of insects, and in doing so, they elevate the art of fly tying to a near-religious devotion. Imagine the meticulous hand, the eye of a hawk, the patience of a saint, all dedicated to creating a feathered marvel that whispers promises of leaping fish and triumphant nets.
But, dear readers, the marvels of chicken extend far beyond the fishing hole. Their feathers, that soft, filmy armor, are the unsung heroes of practical innovation. Feather meal, derived from processed chicken feathers, is a nitrogen-rich fertilizer—nature’s own version of green, growing alchemy—turning the humble poultry into soil’s best friend. Meanwhile, researchers, with their ever-curious minds, are exploring chicken feathers as an insulative marvel—sustainable, biodegradable, and perhaps more cozy than your grandmother’s quilt.

And let us not forget the keratin—the very protein that makes up those feathers—being transformed into membranes for fuel cells, promising a future of cleaner energy. The hydrophobic nature of feathers makes them prime candidates for oil spill absorption and water filtration, turning what was once waste into environmental salvation.
In the decorative realm, feathers from chickens grace the most extravagant costumes, from boas and masks to dreamcatchers and arrow fletchings—each feather a tiny masterpiece of nature’s design. Even in the realm of the practical, some enterprising companies are experimenting with chicken feathers as a component in bioplastics, paper substitutes, and adhesives—an astonishing array of uses that would make even the most skeptical poultry enthusiast nod in admiration.

Now, dear readers, I must confess that this entire issue, painstakingly assembled without the aid of a digital web of graphic artists or the siren call of pixelated grandeur, was crafted with the straightforward tools of paper, pastel, and a kaleidoscope—yes, a kaleidoscope!—to remind us that ingenuity need not be digital to be dazzling.

So, as you turn these pages, remember: the chicken’s humble feather holds within it worlds of possibility—practical, decorative, and downright madcap. We hope our efforts reflect not only a love of fowl but also a respect for our planet, a delicate balance we strive to honor.
With feathers ruffled and spirits high,
Virgil Kay
Editor, Rooster, China Wok Habitué

Keywords: abstract,cosmos,toast