3/31/2006: Albino peacock

[chrisinhouston]

Originally Posted by glatt

Or tie-died.

True story... Federal and state wildlife agencies often put numbered bands on wild birds to indentify them, usually small metal leg bands but sometimes you see big birds like geese with neck band collars that can be identified from a distance.

Back in the early 80's some bright official here in Texas had the idea to dye some white snow geese so they could track their movement and easily see them in a large flock of geese. They chose to spray a bright pink dye on several birds as a test. The pink birds flew with the rest of the flock for a week or so but they were slowly ostracized by the flock and eventually they were totally excluded. Several were actually found dead having been attacked by other geese, litterally pecked to death. The others died from going solo making them easier prey for coyotes and other preditors.

And they say humans are the only ones who are xenophobic.