Blue Jay Feather
A collection of photomicrographs presented by Terry Lynch
Naturalist, Photographer, Journalist
|
Blue jay feather 80X. Light reflected from a blue jay's feather reveals that the coloration is not due to pigmentation but to refraction. The space between the feathers is black and when illuminated from behind absorbs rather than transmits light.
On a mid-February morning I was playing ball with my dog when I happened upon this feather from a blue jay. Robins, quails, blackbirds and jays had been seen recently visiting the birdbath. However this feather may have been on the ground for some time. Its color I noted had not faded as do some dyed fabrics when left out in the sunlight. Could it be the feature's color is not due to pigmentation?
This was easily resolved by placing the feather under a microscope and observing it under both reflected and transmitted light. The blue color, it appears, is due to refraction, not pigmentation. Thus a blue jay feather will not loose its color no matter how long it is bleached by the sunlight, for the color is not due to a pigment which can be bleached and destroyed by sunlight.
Is this the case with all bird feathers? Here is a clue to how new fabrics might be made and colored without the use of dyes. Seems I recall reading that Sir Isaac Newton made this same discovery centuries ago. It is amazing at how the memory may be jarred by seeing anew, in closer detail, common objects and wondering about their nature. Perhaps I had not forgotten this at all; rather, until I viewed this feather the memory had no reason to be recalled. Is that how our minds work, storing every bit on information, every experience, not bringing them to the surface unless we have an experience to associate with the buried memories?
The study of nature often brings to mind thoughts and ideas which would never occur unless one were stimulated to think new ideas, new dreams, new visions ... to synthesize from a set of observations and experiences a new concept. That's why it is important to not just learn from books, but to observe nature and be stimulated by what one finds from day to day in the fields, meadows, forest and canyons the whole world over. It is such observation and discovery which has brought about the greatest of ideas and theories. Indeed, Darwin would not have been so likely to originate his theory of the origin of the species had he not traveled around the world collecting specimens on the Beagle.
TAL 15 Feb. 2003
Additional Photos Coming Soon!
If you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of more photographs, please be patient. Additional photos will be presented over time as interesting specimens are prepared and photographed. Please click on the links below to view additional photomicrographs and special natural history pages presented for your education, enlightenment and enjoyment. Thank you!
Visit Project GEO
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Terry Lynch. All Rights Reserved.