10 BEAUTIFUL WINTER TRANSITIONS

Transitions can be beautiful! They are journeys, through which we find new knowledge, experience, and growth.

 

We have just transitioned into winter and are about to move into a New Year. When seasons change,  the planet and its inhabitants all go through transitions. Today, we pay homage to the beautiful transitions of animals in winter, as their colors and forms  change to help them survive the challenges of snow, ice, and scarcity.

Photo: Courtesy of Look Sharp! Reindeer in Sweden.

Reindeer eyes transition from gold to blue as the days grow shorter and darker. A study published earlier this year in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal explained the science behind reindeers' changing eyes.

 

The color change happens in the tepetum lucid, the layer of tissue in the eye that reflects visible light back through the retina. Blue reflects less light back, thereby capturing more light to help the reindeer navigate through dark winter days.

Photo: Courtesy of Lake Superior Zoo. Snow Leopard in the winter.

Fur thickens for snow leopards as it does for many mammals as they move through winter.

Photo: Courtesy of Tucer. Horses running in the snow.

The quests to stay warm and well-fed lead many animals to move farther afield.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Wallpaperose. Red-Crowned Cranes.

 

Birds that don’t migrate to avoid the harshness of winter, adapt to meet its demands.

Photo: Jan Frode Haugseth. Rock Ptarmigan.

The Rock Ptarmigan, also known as the Snow Chicken, changes its feathers from brown to white in its winter transitions.

Photo: Eric Magnuson. Red Fox.

The red fox stays red in its thicker winter coat.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Shutterstock. Arctic Fox.

 

The arctic fox transitions from its brown summer wardrobe to its plush white winter coat in winter.

Photo: Courtesy of Wallls. Ferret.

The ferret follows suit… with a white suit.

Photo: Courtesy of Animalcogz. Snowshoe Hare.

And still more beautiful white coats for a winter’s journey…

Photo: Courtesy of WWF. Polar Bear.

Polar bears also get whiter as winter closes in. They, along with their arctic neighbors, are unfortunately experiencing another, more critical transition, as global warming threatens their landscape and food supply.

Photo: Jessica Trinh. Chuppy the Golden Retriever.

As we end 2013 and move into 2014, we wish you all happy and beautiful transitions. See you on the other side!

Photo: Courtesy of All Web Design.

Read more about Beautiful Transitions, as they relate to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact in our posts throughout this week, including 10 New Books on Beauty in Transition.

Spread some peace and share your beautiful vision. Enter this week’s BN Competition. Our theme this week is Beautiful Transitions. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 01.05.14.