Life with wings
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As you can see in the above photo, the feathers are connected close to the bones of the wings. This enables you to move them like fingers and feel how the wind moves between them. This is very helpful when flying. You will also have to be careful with this main row of feathers, as getting them torn out would leave you in extreme pain until the feather grows back in. Similar to the pain when a fingernail is removed. These feathers are rooted so deeply, connected by so much muscle tissue and almost touching the bone, if they were to get torn out/removed It would be incredibly painful, and the feather follicle would come with it, inside out, and end up so deformed it wouldn't be able to produce feathers again. To summarize: Be careful with your feathers! NO aerial stunts or high velocity flying, no diving, and no flying through forests/ places with lots of obstacles.
You will molt your feathers just like birds do.
Molting is the replacement of worn feathers, and is an essential thing that avians must undergo to maintain healthy plumage. You will need to be careful with the growing blood feathers.
You will need to be careful with the growing blood feathers.
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Preening will be a daily chore. You may want to fashion some kind of device that makes preening easier, something that mimics the shape of a bird beak so you can put the feathers back in place. Using your fingers, you will "zip up" the barbs of the feathers just like a bird does.
Your natural oil from your skin will be spread from your fingers onto the wing, similar to how birds have an oil gland. Occasional baths will help keep the feathers clean. Dirt baths may be nice too.
Holding the wings out is like holding your arms out, it gets tiring. Mostly wings will stay folded just like you don't hold your arms rigid all the time.
Flexibility will be greatly hindered as your spine will strengthen and fuse.
You may or may not develop hollow bones.
Bird bones are hollow to increase rigidity and to allow penetration of some air sacs; when compared to total mass, their skeletons weigh the same proportionally as mammals.
Wings will change your balance which will take a LOT of getting used to. You will also most likely have changes is posture, meaning you will walk more hunched over to support the weight of the wings.
Your wings may grow in feathers colored differently than you expected. This is called "juvenile feathering" and they will eventually be replaced by adult feathering.
Flying is an instinct. However that does not mean we will not have to work extremely hard to learn how to properly perch and place our feathers just right to create enough lift to fly.
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We will not be able to do many things a human can, such as go into cars (unless they are modified to allow space for wings) or sit on most chairs.
It isn't possible to take off straight from the ground. You will need to run or even better, have something to jump off of like a hill or cliff, thermals (columns of rising air) help too. This is why the biggest flighted bird, the Argentavis magnificens, lived in places with lots of cliff sides and thermals.
When the human hair on your body stands up, the feather shafts will too. Any time you get "goosebumps" the feathers will puff out. You can can also puff feathers out on purpose, for a threat display or to preen under the feathers. Puffing out the feathers when it is raining or you are in the shower will cause the wings to quickly become waterlogged.
In cases of shock, being off balance or being startled, wings flapping is a common reaction. It's instinctual mostly, like how humans extend their arms if they become off balance. Flapping or extending wings can also be an instinctual threat display or to show anger.
Feathers are very warm and have an insulation effect so your own wings can make a very good blanket!
How do we work anatomically?
Avian Humanoids have the same wiry tendons as birds have. These tendons can sustain great loads in flight, sometimes hundreds of times their weight.
Look at a photo of a birds wing muscles and you will see, the muscles are surprisingly small.
Diet and Nutrition
Avians have very high metabolisms.
In the avian body, carbohydrates serve as an energy source. You need lots of this nutrient to fly properly.
Carbohydrate rich foods include:
â—¦ vegetables
â—¦ Sugary foods/drinks
â—¦ Pasta and bread
â—¦ Beans, legumes, nuts and seeds
â—¦ Most fresh or frozen fruits
â—¦ whole grains
Once you have wings, consider making recipes like granola bars or fruit leather that can easily be carried and provide a quick source of energy.
Amino acids and the proteins constructed from them are needed for feather, bone, hormone, muscle, and enzyme production. Protein can also be used as a source of energy. These nutrients are extremely important for avians in the process of growing wings.
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â—¦ Seeds and nuts
â—¦ quinoa and soy
â—¦ lentils
â—¦ Eggs
â—¦ Fish
A huge part in being prepared to grow wings will be controlled by your levels of folic acid. It will help prevent anemia, and it will facilitate the absorption of other nutrients. It is also involved in the production of DNA, which will be vital in producing trillions of new cells. You can get folic acid from leafy greens, citrus, and most multivitamins.
Iron is very important as well. You can use an iron supplement or you can eat iron heavy foods like egg yolks, spinach, and dried fruits.
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Clothing
Wearing most normal human clothes with wings will be a challenge .
Bras, shirts, jackets and other clothing will have to be modified to allow the wings to move freely. Clothing must also be tight fitting so it doesn't flap around while flying.
Goggles would be good to have to help with high winds or dust.
Hair would need to be pulled back, braided or otherwise covered up so it doesn't whip all around during flight.
Links to explore various clothing avians could wear:
http://demireius.deviantart.com/art/Outfits-for-Winged-Folks-Backs-530436878
Survival Guide
First aid kit for Avians: â—¦ Styptic powder (to stop bleeding) â—¦ Hemostats/fine needle nose pliers/tweezers â—¦ Gauze â—¦ Ace bandage with velcro
While new feathers are growing in they have both an artery and a vein running through them. You must be extremely careful with these blood feathers! If they do get injured, they will bleed profusely and you will need to use styptic powder and if that doesn't work, removing the entire feather with tweezers.
You need to learn basic wing wraps/splints as well.
http://wildliferehabber.com/rehab-data/wing-fractures
Research "feather imping" as it may come in handy for survival situations.
https://tristatebird.org/what-is-feather-imping/