The world’s most expensive feather is a glossy black, white-tipped tail feather in excellent condition that originated from a now-extinct species of New Zealand wattlebird known as the huia (Heteralocha acutirostris). On 20 May 2024, it sold at Webb’s Auction House for NZ$46,522 (£22,409; US$28,417), including buyer’s premium. It had initially been expected to fetch c. NZ$3,000 but went on to break the previous record (also a huia feather, sold at Webb’s in 2010) by some 450%.
Restricted to New Zealand’s North Island, the huia was last definitively observed in 1907, though a few unconfirmed sightings were reported for at least two decades beyond that (and possibly even as recently as the early 1960s). This species was sacred to the Māori people, whose chiefs and their families often wore its tail feathers in their head-dresses. Its extinction is poorly understood, but habitat destruction and over-hunting, coupled with predation by introduced rats and infection by those non-native mammals’ parasites, all likely played a part.
A feature that distinguished the huia was the unparalleled degree of sexual dimorphism exhibited in the beak between males and females. Whereas that of the male was short, stout, straight and sharply pointed at its tip, that of the female was long, slender, and downward-curved, the two shapes having evolved to fulfil two very different functions. The male’s was used to chisel out grubs (especially those of Prionoplus reticularis, a longhorn beetle commonly called the huhu) from decaying wood like a woodpecker does, and the female’s was used to secure grubs from deep woody crevices that her mate’s shorter beak could not reach. Until recently, it was thought that the possession of a sexually dimorphic beak was unique to the huia, but it is now known that a second, unrelated species of vanished bird, the Réunion crested starling (Fregilupus varius), extinct since 1837, also sported such a beak, but not to so pronounced a degree as in the huia.
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History of Auctioneering
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The Michigan Auctioneers Association Granted Tax Exempt Status in 1998 to represent the interests of auctioneers in Michigan.
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The Washington Auctioneers Association Granted Tax Exempt Status in 2020.
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The Arizona State Auctioneers Association Granted Tax Exempt Status in 2021.
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The Auctioneers Association of Maryland Granted Tax Exempt Status in 1998.
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Georgia Auctioneers Association Inc Granted Tax Exempt Status in 1969 to Educate Georgia Auctioneers.
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The Montana Auctioneer Association Granted Tax Exempt Status in 2020.
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Source: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/81-0375390
The Alabama Auctioneers Association Inc Granted Tax Exempt Status in 1990 to Educate Alabama Auctioneers.
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Daniel R. Ritger “Colonel Dan”
Died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at the age of 62. He was born in West Bend, WI, the son of the late LeRoy and Imelda (Nee Weninger) Ritger. Dan graduated from Slinger High School, and attended Reisch School of Auctioneering in Iowa. At a young age he followed his father’s interest in the cattle business by becoming an auctioneer. He had his first auction at the age of 16 years old and has been an auctioneer for 41 years doing public auctions and selling livestock for Ritger Auction Services, Midwest Livestock Producers, Equity Livestock, and the Milwaukee Stockyard. For the past 25 years Dan has been with Auction Specialists of Stoughton. In 2019 Dan partnered with Rod Drendel to form Ritger Drendel Auction Specialists. Dan also was a member of WI Auctioneer’s Association.
Dan took pride in being involved in his community, volunteering with the Allenton Lions club for many years, serving as a Past President and also on various committees and events. He was a previous member of the Allenton Fire Department and served on the Addison Town Board for several years including being Chairman for a time. He used his auction skills and quick talking for various fund raising events, volunteered at many livestock auctions at local county fairs and announced the Allenton parade for many years. He was also involved with the Washington County Farm Bureau serving hamburgers and ice cream sundaes.
His Catholic faith was very important to him. He was very active at Resurrection Parish (formerly Sacred Heart) where he attended school at an early age and continued his involvement as he grew older. After moving to Kewaskum in recent years, St. Michaels Catholic Church became his new parish home.
Dan is survived by his son, who was his pride and joy, Clyde Ritger; his former wife, who still held a special place in his heart, Rhoda Ritger; his siblings Timothy (Bonnie Johnson), and Cecilia (Russ) Nehm; nieces & nephews Krista (Keith) Ritger, Teresa (Tim) Weiser, Doug (Lavinia) Nehm, and Eric Nehm. He is further survived by aunts, uncles, other relatives, and many friends. Dan was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Gerhard Ritger.
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Franklin – Born to Harriet Haas and Elmer Martin on August 10th, 1945 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Allen Howard Martin passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on January 15th, 2021 at the age of 75. Allen was proceeded in death by his loving wife Karen “Chris” Martin, his parents Elmer and Harriet Martin and his sister Joyce Martin. Survived by his children Lisa Traylor, Lori (Greg) Gilanyi, Tomas Martin (Sheila Collins), John (Melisa) Martin. Stepfather to Keri (Donald) Gerbing, Kurt (Larae) Brossman. Grandfather to Kim (Ben) Dorval, Joani Hargrow, Benjamin Traylor, Nathan Gilanyi, Matthew (Emily) Gilanyi, Amy (Nick) Szeklinski, Alex Martin, Emily Martin, Kylee Sekach, Emily Martin, Jack Martin, Kaden Martin, Jessica Gerbing, Jared Gerbing, Parker Brossman, and Lily Brossman. Great-Grandfather of Faith Buss, Barrett, Carlton, and Elias Dorval, Blake and Jade Hargrow, Lily Gilanyi, Andrey and Sophia Struck, and Jordan Manriquez. Also survived by other relatives and family.
Allen graduated from Greendale High School in 1963. He worked for the Franklin Fire Department for over 30 years where he retired as Captain. Col Allen Martin served on the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association Board and was an auctioneer for many years. Allen was a lifetime member of the Union Grove and Oak Creek Tractor Clubs where he proudly displayed his toy tractor farm annually.
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