Which procedure is used to repair a broken primary feather in a raptor?

• A. Venting
• B. Clipping the feather
• C. Imping
• D. Feather replacement with synthetic

Answer: (C)

Imping is used to repair a broken primary feather. It involves selecting a healthy donor feather and inserting its base (the calamus) into the damaged shaft of the broken feather, then securing it so the two grow together as one feather. This provides an immediate, functional wing return, preserving lift and balance while the natural feather regrows and the bird continues to fly and hunt. Clipping would not fix the damaged shaft, venting is not a feather-repair method, and replacing with a synthetic feather doesn’t restore the bird’s natural feather structure and flight dynamics.