Albno Doing Well

Jerry Parent · Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:03 pm

Albino martin nestling is now 20 days old and doing well. It appears normal like it's three siblings except for it's pink eyes and all white feathers. Like it's siblings its now starting to peek out of it's cavity. Here are some of the latest photos of the little bird. Hope it can fledge with the others.

Jerry Parent

Guest · Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:25 pm

Awww.... How beautiful.... I sure hope he has a better chance than most Albinos. From what I have read it usually isn't to promising! Keep your fingers crossed, Is there a bird sanctuary or a zoo that could take him close to you? I wish we had a way to permanentely make them dark so they would blend w/ the others instead of looking like the odd ball.
adiekaty

Guest · Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:52 am

Most interesting. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately the odds are against your baby. Please keep us informed.

Dick Sherry · Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:16 pm

Jerry, thanks for posting the pictures. It is hard to know what becomes of the albinos, but several years ago there were two albino or partial albino martins that were part of the huge martin roost here in Tulsa. We could observe the roost trees from the top floor of a parking garage, so the light colored feathers really stood out against the dark green leaves on the trees. That was the same year that a colony in Nebraska had two partial albino fledglings, so we wondered if they were the same birds. Towards the end of August we will keep a look out for an albino in case your bird migrates through here.