Good post PCP. I've heard that the amber tips simply break off as the beard continues to grow and get longer. I can believe the bit about it not working in northern climates. The first Merriam I shot in South Dakota had a beard about the length of a jake beard of an Alabama bird. The morning after I shot that bird in the Black Hills, we got about 6 inches of snow. I imagine lots of northern birds have short beards due to dragging them through the snow.