Friday, July 25, 2008

Leucistic Eagle in SoCo July 2008

From: Newsradio 850 KOA: Rare albino eagle found in Colorado

A part-albino Golden Eagle has been found in the Pinon Canyon area of Southeastern Colorado by rancher Tony Hass. His wife, Connie, took the photos as they waited for Division of Wildlife District Manager Jeremy Gallegos to capture the eagle and take it to the Raptor Center in Pueblo.

For the story and accompanying photos click here. Be sure to check out the link to the ‘photo gallery’.

Of course, there really isn’t such a thing as ‘partial albino’…it seems to me. Albinism is the absence of color…all color, to the degree that the iris is colorless and eyes appear to be red, as they are actually transparent and it is the blood vessels one sees. When ‘some’ color is absent or excessively light; the condition is called Leucism. Leucistic birds have some color and dark eyes; they are not Albino.

For more infomration regarding Leucisim see:

Adendum: Too funny, this story took place in my neighborhood here in Southern Colorado, but BirdChick seems to have scopped me big time! The Minnesota girl quotes a local paper here in Colorado some five hours after I posted what I'd heard. Dang, news travels FAST! I appreciate her update from our local paper: The Pueblo Chieftan.

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