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Albino BluebirdsDate: Wed, 10 May 2000 12:44:34 EDT From: KCBSP"at"aol.com To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu Subject: White Bluebirds have vanished Kathy Clark Hello! I thought I'd give the fella a call about the white birds. They were around last winter, but it seems nobody has seen them for a few months now. I just thought I'd let the list know. I was hoping they were still around. Nobody really knows what became of them. If they are seen again or there are anymore birds seen they promised to call. ... Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 13:06:17 -0400 (EDT) On Wed, 10 May 2000 KCBSP"at"aol.com wrote: Nobody really knows what became of them. In general, albino animals are really easy prey for predators to find. Also tyrosinase-negative albino animals (white with pink eyes) have neurological (vision, auditory) problems that can put them at a disadvantage. They certainly are fascinating, and it is sad to hear that they are gone for now. Yours, Barry... Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 19:29:23 -0400 Kathy, Thanks for the update. Is there anyone on Bluebird-L that has ever seen or heard of white adult bluebirds nesting? Brenda Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 22:08:09 -0400 Kathy, Are you referring to the white bluebirds that were spotted last October in Carroll County, PA? I just reread an article wherein our own, Betty Nichols, is quoted. I don't know whether the article is still online but this was the website: http://www.carrollcounty.com/birds/index.htm The photos were spectacular! I just tried the site and wasn't successful in retrieving the photos of the white bluebirds. I have a copy of the article, however, the photos are in black and white. This works anyway because you see the white birds. Patty in WV ... From: Brenda Best jabbest"at"dreamscape.com To: KCBSP"at"aol.com KCBSP"at"aol.com; BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu Date: Mittwoch, 10. Mai 2000 19:35 Subject: Re: White Bluebirds have vanished Hi Brenda: In answer to your question -- I have been monitoring Bluebirds over 20 years and have never
seen white Bluebirds nesting. The ones seen in Carroll County,
MD last October were not full Betty Nichols, Middletown, MD ... Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 22:47:50 -0400 Being from MD, Betty would know that it was Carroll Cty, MD not PA as I guessed. They also had dark-colored legs (according to the article). In spite of the dark eyes and legs, these birds were beautiful too. Patty in WV ... Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 23:02:17 -0500 Barry mentioned that albinos usually have physical disadvantages. I have seen this even with fish. I have an albino catfish in one of my ponds and he is always the last to locate the floating fish food. Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 01:17:59 -0700 (PDT) We have an albino bluebird nestling in northern Indiana. It is approximately 14 days old and should fledge this week-end. It was brought to the attention of the Indiana Bluebird Society by some folks who noticed it in their nest box. Many pictures have been taken and it is being closely monitored. Should efforts be made to band it? This is my first experience with albinism and I have alot of questions and interest. I hope that the list will discuss albinism in birds and specifically in bluebirds.
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 10:36:30 -0400 (EDT) On Wed, 11 Jul 2001, Daniel Sparks wrote: This is my first experience with albinism and I have alot of questions and interest. I hope that the list will discuss albinism in birds and specifically in bluebirds. The most severe form of Albinism (absence of melanin/black pigment, pink eyes) is caused by a mutation in the gene for tyrosinase, the enzyme that converts tyrosine (an amino acid) to dihydroxyphenylalanine (a precursor to melanin and to neurotransmitter molecules). The pink appearance of the eyes is caused by blood circulating behind the eye, which normally is masked by the pigment of the eye. Other pigment variations (at least 10) besides tyrosinase-negative albinism are also considered to be forms of albinism in humans. Laboratory mice that are full-white with pink eyes do have tyrosinase-negative albinism. Many other color variations of lab mice are caused by mutations at other loci: One, called White or black-eyed white, produces a mouse that is fully white but has black eyes (not because of a tyrosinase problem, but because there are no melanocytes/pigment cells in the skin). Typical white lab mice are albino, not White. Tyrosinase-negative albinism is a recessive trait. That means that the albino must be homozygous for the mutation, that is, carry two mutant genes (alleles). If an individual has even one normal allele, he is fully pigmented. The parents of the albino must each have had one mutant allele and one normal allele (assuming they are normally pigmented). Perhaps they are relatives and both inherited the mutant allele from a common ancestor. Animals with heat-labile tyrosinase (the enzyme degrades easily if heated) have little or no pigment on the warmer parts of their bodies but do have some pigment on the cooler parts (ears, tail, nose). Siamese cats and himalayan mice are examples. Human albinos (of any race) have white skin and pink eyes. Those of races that are normally heavily pigmented are particularly striking. In the past, some albino people grew their white hair very long, to accentuate their unusual appearance, and made a living in the circus. When I taught med school genetics, I had some slides showing albino Hopi native Americans, African-Americans, and circus performers. Pigment mutations are fascinating and have been widely used in teaching genetics because they are so easily observed and have such a dramatic impact on appearance. Albino animals (including people) often have problems with vision and hearing. They may be photophobic (can't stand bright light because of the lack of pigment in the eyes) and are at a very high risk for skin cancer. Albino animals generally do poorly in the wild, probably because of their neurological problems and because predators can find them so easily. There have been photos of albino bluebirds on the web. I haven't heard if they have ever survived to breed. I hope you will share the photos of this year's albino bluebird with the world. Yours, Barry Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 12:27:22 -0400 Very interesting, Barry. Can a bird be a 'partial albino'? Last year we had one little Chickadee who was nearly all white except parts of its wings and cap. It did breed, but none of the offspring had the white markings. (I'm just assuming it was the parent of the chicks in the nest .) Either it grew normal feathers after molting, or something happened to it because I haven't seen it around the feeder this year. MJ Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 08:48:01 -0700 I remember a couple of years ago when a website carried photos of breeding albino blues. Of course, I can't remember when or where but it has been documented! I want to say they were in NJ but, then again... Judy Mellin Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 13:08:39 -0500 Dan & all, Here in Nebraska we had a documented case of a albino bluebird fledglings a few years back (1996) that were banded. You can see the pictures documenting the same at my web site, here is the direct link http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/bbgal.htm Jim McLochlin Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 12:20:05 -0500 I didn't see this posted to the list and I thought some might enjoy. Jim McLochlin -----Original Message----- Hello to all, we have just uploaded to our website the pictures of an albino bluebird...if anyone is interested the site is www.waveone.net/jaa then go to the albino link................Jim Auer Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 14:43:21 -0500 To see pictures of albino bluebirds go to www.waveone.net/jaa then click on albino pictures 1 and 2 and it will take you to these pictures. These albinos were banded in July. compliments of the Indiana Bluebird Society Jim Auer Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 12:16:55 -0400 Hi everyone, From: "Emily Smith" emilys7"at"earthlink.net Yes, she is most likely an albino bluebird! From Donald and Lillian Stokes' The Bluebird Book: "Albinism is the result of a genetic defect that stops the process of pigment production. The eyes of an albino bird look pink because they lack pigment, allowing the blood from the blood vessels in the eyes to show through. Albino birds have trouble surviving because their feathers are weaker, and because they may be chased or harrassed by members of their own species." I've never seen one; must be an interesting sight! Wonder if they have babies if there will be one or more albinos in the brood as well? Cheers, Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 14:58:18 -0500 It could be a leucistic BB - one that lacks feather pigments, but not albino where all color is gone (pink eyes etc) and this is not an uncommon happening. A quick Google search of leucistic birds should show you a loy of them! take care, From: "PTom" ptom"at"austin.rr.com I've talked with a bluebirder in Marble Falls, Texas who has an albino (white with pink eyes) Eastern Bluebird nestling (with 3 blue nestlings) that should fledge in the next 2 - 3 days. His neighbor had an albino last year (genes of same parent?). How unusual is this in Eastern Bluebirds? Does any organization collect documentation on albino bluebirds? Pauline Tom |
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