Dull Blue Jay under lack of sunlight
I took this photo of a Blue Jay under very cloudy, dark and dreary conditions as a comparative example to the bird that I previously photographed and posted that was in full sunlight. See, when there is considerably less light the species appears far less blue because it is all an illusion of sorts. Missing out on the vibrant shades of some species during overcast conditions is not a deception of our eyes – the colors are just not there! Those tricky birds… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreBlue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
I feel as if I am still being constantly reminded of the many Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) around with acorns crunching under my feet and calls of busy birds screeching out of yards, parks, and woodlands. They can look so vibrantly blue on sunny days, but that color is caused by sunlight being scattered by specialized cells in their feather barbs. Yep, the Blue Jay has no blue pigment! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreSnowy Egrets feeding under the clouds
I took these photos earlier in the week while conducting surveys in coastal Connecticut for our work in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. It was a warm and cloudy day with calm but soon to be increasing winds ahead of a cold front. The southerly flow made for a quieter morning in terms of passerine migrants but these feeding Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) kept me busy. The Snowy Egret is listed as “threatened” under the Connecticut Endangered Species Act. While we as a society no longer hunt birds like these beautiful long-legged waders to adorn our clothing with their...
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