Jessica Crabtree

This is a really great interactive from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, exploring the twin wonders of color science and the unique bird-of-paradise.

How does their fantastic plumage develop across the hugely diverse array of the species – and by what process do we (and the creatures of their own habitats) perceive it?

Enjoy the amazing footage in this project video:

It’s about that time of year (for me, at least) when days are shorter, itineraries are longer, and blog posting wanes. My part of the country was fortunate to enjoy a spectacular jewel-toned autumn before the trees lost their leaves for the season, but the long stretch of suspiciously mild weather left many wondering if winter had lost its way. Late maybe, but not lost, judging by the mountainous clouds and frosty-smelling air. Christmas may be wintry after all?

So all this had me thinking about some of my posts from years past, and generally all things “winter” – among them a little tangent exploration of the humble snowflake:

Patterns in Nature: Snowflakes

Ice castles anyone? From National Geographic:
NatGeo: In Praise of Winter

And some especially appealing shots of the British Isles under the spell of a winter blast a couple of years back:

Let’s not forget the elegant swan, winter’s most graceful totem. If your December is as hectic as most people find it, a moment of “swan therapy” might be just the prescription. Few animals are as inspiringly soothing to see in photos.

Need to brush up on your reindeer trivia? Here’s some bite-sized factoids to keep handy when Rudolph comes calling:

12 Fascinating Facts About Reindeer

Of course there are plenty more to choose from. Feel free to browse my archives at your pleasure! If time allows, I’ll soon have a new project in the works: a musk ox portrait to suit the season. More to come soon!

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The Calgary Zoo « Canadian Hiking Photography.

(Click image for larger view)

Finished! 8×10 charcoal (See details on my Gallery.) Thanks to William Warby for the Creative Commons photograph. Click the tags below to see it step-by-step.

Click for larger view

Better than halfway done…

Snow leopard, stage two. Click photo for larger view.

Albinism is an inherited mutation that causes a lack (albinoid) or absence (albino) of melanin, the primary skin pigment.
(Image: Canaille Blog)

There are several drawbacks for an animal born with albinism. For most, it strips away their camouflage ability, since creatures of a brilliant white will stand out in almost any setting. Because of the lack of protective pigments in the skin, they are more prone to sun damage. Many of them also experience congenital eye conditions that accompany the trait. Without pigmentation, the blood cells beneath the skin and tissues are visible, making the eyes of albinos often appear pink or red.

Leucism is a type of albinism that affects the skin and hair or feathers, but does not affect the eyes.

Wikipedia: Leucism

Certain species of otherwise normally colored animals have genetic subspecies that are mostly or entirely white.

White bengal tiger: Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-3.0) by Averette

The mesmerizing beauty and mystery of these “ghost animals” have made them revered in many cultures since prehistoric times. They are often seen as divine messengers and it is taboo to harm them (such as the white buffalo of the Plains Indians). In modern times, this fascination has turned against them, making them popular in captive exhibits and the hides and other remains prized specimens for hunters and collectors. Albino and leucistic animals are now protected by law in many parts of the world.

National Geographic – Weird & Wild Pictures: Albino Animals Revealed

Melanism is the exact opposite condition; it’s the result of overproduction of pigments. Usually this is manifested in the phantom “black animals” that appear from time to time in a population. Unlike albinos, darker animals have an almost universal survival advantage (unless they live in the Arctic, for example) because it is easier for them to blend in with their surroundings.

Wikipedia: Melanism

Melanism in a gene pool can quickly become a dominant trait – as in the case of the Yellowstone wolves. (NATURE: In the Valley of the Wolves)

TALKBACK: What’s your favorite albino animal?

• Big cats
• Peafowl
• Horses