The other problem with this ability is when you zone, it is removed from you abilities (at least it is on my guys). I have been able to get it to work, but have to do a spell export after aquiring each ability on all toons. Basically adding 45 minutes to each run (15 per ability). If you are just after the shards from the quest, do like I do, chrono to 85, enter, unmentor, and kill everything without using the ability from the feathers.
try using the /eq2execute MCP funtion to get it to work