The picture above is of Kori feathers that arrived in one shipment January 12 2006.

On the Kori Bustard front I have some good news and some great news.

The good news is I just received a nice package of Kori feathers and will be able to send out a few large pairs or double-sided singles along with assorted smaller feathers if they are available to any fly tyer or Native American in the US wanting them. I am also advised there are several additional packages of feathers that will be sent to me shortly for distribution. I will explain fully what steps you will need to take to receive Free Kori Feathers but first the great news.

I was advised yesterday that the free feather program will continue for at least another year. The members of the Kori SSP responses for the review of the initial year of the program were all positive. Their plan is to continue sending me Kori feathers to distribute as per our agreement and again review the program at the end of this year. I suspect there will be even more facilities joining in and contributing feathers during the year. I am also communicating with individuals at a couple of the facilities about starting additional programs that will include other hard to get feathers.

One of the critical things I need from you, the recipients of the free feathers, is to tie a few flies using Kori and send them to me. Feedback and donations to the Kori SSP Fund is important but I have promised all the collecting facilities they will be receiving a shadow box of samples of our craft. Several facilities have displays planned for their Kori exhibits to include the FREE KORI BUSTARD to FLY TYERS program with a display of our handy work. The flies you tie don?t have to be fancy salmon flies (although they get the most notice) but any type of fly, fishing or display, is needed. If you would volunteer to make a shadow box I need the help, in fact I can?t do it without your help. If you feel you would like to help in any way please let me know John@FeathersMc.com.

If you live in the US and tie flies and would like to receive free Kori feathers all you need to do is send me a $4.05 USPS Priority Mail Stamp (postage went up) and an address label (with your name and address on it) I can stick on the free box (provided by the Post Office) and send you feathers. The only stipulations are; you must live in the US (Kori feathers cannot be mailed out of the United States), you must either be a Native American or a fly tyer and none of the feathers or any part thereof can be sold or exchanged for monetary gain. This is a very small community and I?m sure I will eventually hear if anyone violates these conditions. I would hope that will never be the case as anyone causing a major problem that endangered the program would not only have my wrath to contend with I?m sure there would be a number of other tiers equally as upset. I would also like you to include what size hook you need the Kori for. Bear in mind a Partridge 3/0 Bartleet is equal in length to a 5/0 or 6/0 hook by other makers. And also if you tie fishing flies and would like feathers suitable for that please let me know in your request. Along with the feathers I will include a program pamphlet supplied by the Kori SSP and a letter from me explaining what you can do to help the project continue. Please do not contact any of the Kori SSP people asking for feathers to be sent to you. I am the person who sends out the feathers.

I can not be certain of the supply so I will not simply put my address up here for you to mail your stamp. Please contact me at John@FeathersMc.com as to the availability of feathers and at that time I will supply you with my address if necessary.