Weekly Photo Challenge: Color
There’s so much color in the depths of South Florida, but this little one’s not native to the area. It’s native to a region where I was raised (roundabout, anyways). When I think of COLOR, my brain always returns to the petite endangered Gouldian Finch — also known as the Rainbow Finch, appropriately.
This spectacularly-colored little bird is native to Australia, where their numbers have decreased dramatically throughout the 20th century due to habitat loss. They remain an endangered species in their natural habitat, with less than 2,500 remaining. While attempts at their reintroduction have proved unsuccessful, thankfully these lovely finches are the subject of a conservation program in Australia. There are currently plans to recover and conserve their natural habitats, with management guidelines in place to educate landholders about land management, promoting the recovery program, and Gouldian Finch conservation. They’re also popular birds in captivity and among breeders, which keeps their general populations higher.
Gouldian (Rainbow) Finch posing at his sanctuary in Butterfly World
In 1992, the species was classified as endangered in the wild. That same year, Catwoman stuffed a poor Gouldian into her mouth in Batman Returns — some say, to raise awareness for their plight.
Here’s to wishing all the best for this beautiful and bright little bird!
FeyGirl
Serenity Spell 
What a spectacular bird, perfect for the challenge!
Isn’t he just perfect? All the colors of the rainbow, in one tiny little endangered bird…
Like the Rainbow Bright of Birds – love it:) Have a Great Day!
So VERY true!! All the colors of the rainbow, in this tiny endangered bird. Here’s to wishing these little guys the brightest futures, too. 🙂 Happy Thursday to you!!
Colors of the tropics are so vibrant. I would think that the bird survived cat woman. It would not seem possible that she would chew a live bird. Good protest. It got a lot of attention. Even negative atention draws focus.
Hee, I like to think that it brought attention to the bird’s plight — it WAS the same year it was placed on the endangered species list. Coincidence? Hmmm…..! Regardless, I hope that they’re doing better now. They need all the help they can get!!
a very beautiful bird
He truly is… Just a magnificent little guy, all the colors of the rainbow in one tiny endangered bird!
Beautiful picture! It is really hard to get a good picture of them at ButterflyWorld lately. The finches are always moving around, and now half disappear inside the tupperware containing birdseed. What a beauty!
Ah, you know the situation well!
It’s so wonderful, this free-flight aviary… And I was SO lucky to snag one at rest. I think he was posing. 🙂
I need to return — it’s been awhile! I just love that place!
Wow! What a colorful bird.
Such an amazing little guy…. All the colors of the rainbow in this tiny endangered bird. 🙂
I’d love to see him through bird-eyes… I wonder if he would look even more colorful. Absolutely beautiful…thank you!
What an interesting perspective — I love that!
Thanks so much… I hope these amazing little guys are more protected in their native world. Such beautiful little things.
It’s so colourful, it looks like a stuffed animal.
It really does — I keep saying “unreal.” 🙂
I was right there with lylekrahn… I don’t think you could find a more colorful bird and not create it artificially. Good job.
Thanks so much… It really does look unreal. But I hope they’re more protected in their native lands — all the colors of the rainbow wrapped up in this tiny endangered bird, it just has to be protected!
Must agree… it’s a treasure.
So amazing…. x
Really a totally unreal, thoroughly beautiful little guy, eh?!?
I know, I was so impressed! x
This is so cute. Is it related to Love Birds?
He’s just an amazing little guy… But you know, I’m honestly not sure!
What an amazing beauty!! Thanks for the info too I was not aware of that.
I just love these little guys… I sure hope that the conservationists in Australia have had successes with their habitats.
WOW! WOW!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!! WHAT AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY!!!
Isn’t he gorgeous? Almost unreal….!! 🙂
mindbogglingly brilliant
….and completely unreal! 🙂
Now that’s a colorful bird! So beautiful…
They’re such amazingly beautiful little guys… I hope they have a shot at survival Down Under!
OH he is too adorable. And looking right at you wondering what you’re up to.
I was incredibly lucky to capture this guy at rest — since it’s an enormous free-flight aviary, they’re all darting about like mad, quick as can be. And there he sat, posing like the gorgeous model he was. 🙂
What a eye catcher – great picture! How did you like butterfly world? I have been thinking about going, but it’s a few hours away and I wasn’t sure it would be worth it. The West Palm Zoo is on my list too… Any thoughts?
Ah, well… You’re talking to the wrong person about zoos — I don’t go to them, haven’t since I was six and had to be dragged, screaming, from the Honolulu City Zoo. 🙂
But I do go to sanctuaries and rescues… And Butterfly World is amazing! As is Flamingo Gardens!! Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is also great (I’m VERY behind on my images, lol). I have write-ups of a few of the places here….
Zoos are quite creepy and sad… I prefer the sanctuaries and rescues as well. For the obvious reasons and the vibe is just better. I’m going to check out the places you recommend – butterfly world’s website doesn’t offer much info so your opinion is so appreciated. Thank you for the advice – and if I can ever get caught up around the house maybe I’ll actually be able to make it out to see them 😉
DITTO!
I’ve been meaning to re-visit Flamingo Gardens (an AMAZING PLACE!!!)…. And I haven’t done a write-up on Busch yet, but I’ve been there many times. Also a great sanctuary, but not as expansive:
http://www.buschwildlife.com/
Yes, here’s to it’s recovery!
Ditto, ditto, ditto! 🙂
Wow! What a colorful bird! I hope the plans for its survival are successful.
Isn’t he just amazing? Almost unreal… I hope that their efforts Down Under prove successful for these little guys.
What a gorgeous bird. Here’s hoping its future is a bright one.
Isn’t this little one just marvelous?
I do hope its future is just as bright as its beautiful coloring — much luck to Australia’s conservationists!!
Reblogged this on The Ashlee Craft Awesome Post Award Winners.
This post has been awarded the Ashlee Craft Awesome Post Award, and has been reblogged to the home of this award, bestwordpressposts.wordpress.com. Such a fabulous photo of the wonderfully colorful Gouldian finch, one of my favorite birds! 🙂
Thanks so very much for the nod, and honoring this lovely endangered creature! 🙂
Gouldians are wonderful – there’s been some neat work on mate choice with them, looking at the different color morphs. Of course now I can’t remember what it was, but I remember thinking that it made the Gouldians special – they were approaching mate choice in some unusual way.
I read a bit on the different color morphs, and all the mating that goes into it… WOW. Talk about confusing!! I’m not a caged-bird / breeding person for sure, but without them, these amazing creations’ populations would be completely devastated. So here’s to hoping things have improved for them in their natural environment!!
Such an incredibly beautiful little bird but so sad that humans seem incapable of simply enjoying beauty in the wild and find it necessary to capture and cage these gorgeous creatures.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree… I cannot fathom caging a bird. Simply can’t. But in this case – without the breeders, their populations would be that more devastated. It’s just horrible. So, here’s to hoping the best for Australia and its people, for helping these beauties. The world would be a sadder place without them.
It’s a gorgeous bird – I hope it thrives. It reminds me of one of our Texas birds – the Painted Bunting. I’ve only seen a couple of them in the wild, but there certainly is no mistaking them when they come along!
Ah, ditto…. Isn’t it just an amazing little creation? Nature is beautiful. I hope we can manage to preserve and SAVE this beauty for the world…. And yes, we also have Painted Buntings!! They’re just lovely too – well, the boys are a bit more so. 🙂
Simply so striking in colour and vibrant.
These are such amazing little creations. Nature is beautifully brilliant…. Here’s to their continued survival.
What a tiny, delightful rainbow! I love its beak, as if it were kissed with lipstick!
That’s exactly how I see these little ones… Bright little rainbows! Nature is just amazing.
Hee, I love it! Kissed by lipstick. Just perfect. 🙂
I’ve only ever seen one in captivity and that was at Butterfly World in south Florida. Beautiful bird!
This was indeed at Butterfly World, in the largest free-flight aviary! Such an amazing place…. I was thrilled that this little one chose to take a moment’s rest. They’re usually darting around like mad. 🙂
Who would have thought to colour a bird this way! No colour palette as glorious as Nature’s. My first time seeing this species FeyGirl. Thank you for the gems. Sharon
Nature is absolutely amazing…. No matter how we may try to imitate, we only have to look to it for inspiration. These little ones are just brilliant; here’s to their survival in the wild!
What a beauty, like a flower with wings.
Ah, I just LOVE your vision and your words Hanneke! So very true… All the colors of the rainbow wrapped up in one tiny little bird. May the world continue to preserve her.
WOW!!
Such amazing little creations, aren’t they? Here’s to their survival in the wild…
yes, they surely are!! 🙂
What dazzling bright colors! I hope the plans to recover and conserve their natural habitats in Australia will eventually prove successful…
Ah, ditto, ditto, ditto…. They’re such amazing little gems. I truly hope that Australia and its people save this world’s beauty. What a shame to exist without it.
I have no words for this lovely and beautiful bird ! Stunning photo as always and i like your text, I learn so much from you ! // Maria
THANK you so very much, Maria! I was completely thrilled to catch one at rest… It’s like this little beauty was posing for me. 🙂
Wow and WOW! This bird is in your area? Lucky you!
Actually, he’s found at Butterfly World, the largest free-flight aviary / sanctuary in the U.S…. A magnificent place (I write about it in the toolbar above), that I’m SO incredibly fortunate to be somewhat near! 🙂 Aren’t they just amazing?!?
Oh wow! Your blog is making me homesick! I was born/raised in SoFlo. I used to drag my dad to butterfly world all the time when I was a kid.
Fantastic photo taken in a fantastic place.
Aw, thanks so much! I was actually born in Central FLA, but was raised an Army Brat… And ended up back in SoFla. Funny how things happen! 🙂