Photos: Pennsylvania wildlife center welcomes pair of exceptionally rare albino cardinals
Gelato was admitted to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center about six weeks after Frosty was. Gelato died a short while later, but Frosty is healthy.
Extremely rare albino cardinal 'Frosty' swings on perch
Frosty was admitted the the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in Pennsylvania in July. He's an extremely rare albino cardinal and will live at the center for the rest of his life because of his lack of camouflage and poor vision.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Albino cardinals are extremely rare in the wild, with about a 1 in 30,000 chance of seeing one.
- Frosty came to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in July.
- Gelato joined about a month later in mid-August.
Two extremely rare albino cardinals were admitted into a wildlife center in Pennsylvania a little over a month apart, shocking the rescuers with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The first cardinal was discovered back in July under a woman's car in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She thought it looked hurt.
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Frosty when he was first admitted to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center back in July. (Raven Ridge Wildlife Center)
Raven Ridge Wildlife Center agreed to take in the bird, which they just thought was white, until they opened the box and realized it was in fact an albino cardinal fledgling.
"The chances of seeing an albino cardinal are extremely low," Raven Ridge Wildlife Center said in a post to Facebook. "Albino cardinals are considered one of the rarest bird sightings, with estimates suggesting that the odds of encountering any cardinal displaying white feathers are about 1 in 30,000."
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Albino cardinals are known for their red eyes and overall lack of color everywhere on their body.
Due to albino cardinals being more susceptible to danger because of both their coloring and their poor eyesight, they decided to keep the bird in the center, and name it Frosty.
About six weeks later, Raven Ridge admitted a second albino cardinal fledgling.
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Frosty (left) and Gelato (right). (Raven Ridge Wildlife Center / FOX Weather)
"We couldn't believe that now we had two!" the center said.
Unfortunately, this albino cardinal, whom they named Gelato, had a severe ear infection and didn't survive despite Raven Ridge's attempts to save it.
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Albino cardinals like Frosty and Gelato are known to have shortened lifespans, the wildlife center said.
Frosty and Gelato next to each other. (Raven Ridge Wildlife Center / FOX Weather)
"Our team was pleasantly surprised and thrilled to have the opportunity to work with both cardinals," the center said in a Facebook post.
Frosty remains in their care and will for the rest of his life. He is doing well and has started to molt and show some color in different areas.