As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 27 June 2013

Rarely spotted albino jackdaw at Aberglasney Gardens

A rarely spotted albino jackdaw has been sighted at heritage gardens in Carmarthenshire.

The pure white visitor was snapped at the weekend by the head gardener at Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, who at first thought it was a dove.

The RSPB says albinism only occurs when a bird inherits the gene from both parents.

Survival rates for albino jackdaws, normally black, tend to be lower and so they are only rarely seen.

Head gardener Joseph Atkins at Aberglasney said: "I was quite taken aback by the pure white bird which at first I thought was a dove.

"When I realised that it was in fact an albino jackdaw I quickly took a picture on my mobile. I've certainly never seen one before."

The RSPB website states albinism describes birds in which "some or all of the normal pigmentation is missing".

It is most often inherited, but can be caused by other factors such as poor nutrition or shock.

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