Several of these small, wispy feathers were found on the ground beneath a stand of mature tall, 'power company' pine trees in a nearby forest. They're about 3" long and are very light and fine, like marabou. I'd guess they're breast feathers of a duck of some sort. Perhaps a wood duck or another tree-nesting duck? I've never seen a wood duck up close so I have no idea how likely that is.

Any guesses?

I definitely hope they don't belong to a protected species....

Technorati tag(s): nature, birding