Feathering His Nest

Traditional symbolism? Rarity? Dollar value?
Two 123yr.old huia feathers have been stolen from a Dannevirke museum. The Dannevirke Gallery of History is in the town's historical Old Court House. It holds the Dannevirke town and district archives, including old photos and many more artifacts.
The tail feathers, worth up to NZ$8000 each, were taken last week from one of two mounted juvenile birds in a glass case: someone just prised open the front panel and grabbed them. Police, auction houses and antique dealers have been advised.
In 2010, a feather similar to these was auctioned for NZ$8400 in Auckland, a world record for a bird feather. Several years ago a bald eagle feather sold in the US for US$2800 (NZ$3400).
These stolen feathers came from a pair shot in Pohangina Valley, north of Ashhurst, in 1889. The birds had been in the museum for 25 years and were its biggest drawcard. Only about 15-20 people a week visit the small building, which has no security systems: the items are not insured.
Colin Miskelly, Museum of NZ curator: "The theft is an example of personal greed over the national value for future generations. At one level it's no different to the theft of medals from the Waiouru military museum" (in 2007).
Huia were considered treasures by maori. Only important people, like chiefs, were allowed to wear huia feathers in their hair or wear huia beaks as ornaments. When European settlers arrived in NZ in the 19th century, the huia was found only in the lower half of the North Island. Native rats and dogs, plus traditional maori hunting, had reduced numbers to a point where they could not survive settlers' land clearances and trophy hunting. The last huia was seen in the Tararua Ranges in 1907... 
You can guarantee the thief knows exactly what he's got.