Where Have All the Peafowl Gone?

A few years back there was a nasty political fight in the neighborhood over the number of peafowl gracing our streets, lawns, rooftops, yards, etc. It seemed that people either loved these regal birds or hated them. The Ancient One fell in the "love 'em" category. Yes, I know they are loud, almost like a baby crying in the night. Yes, I hear neighbors complain about how messy they are and how destructive they are of plant life. Well, my garden hasn't suffered and, quite frankly, I find the flocks of crows to be far messier.

Anyway, the fight went all the way to the City Council and an ordinance was passed that allowed for a "thinning out" of the flock. The city, apparently, would supervise the trapping of peafowl and shipping them off to what was described as a "sanctuary" in Colorado. The peafowl population dropped and neighbors started being pleasant to each other again.

But since that happened, the flock has been growing. This past Spring it was larger than I had ever seen and The Ancient One just knew that the fight would start again. This time, maybe because there were so many peafowl about, there was no public fight. Even I had to admit that it might be wise to "thin out" the flock a bit. And sure enough, while not becoming major news, there were references in the local weekly that the City Council had passed a couple of ordinances. One made it a crime, a misdemeanor I'm sure, for citizens to feed the birds. The other provided for the trapping and shipping of the birds in order to reduce the crop. This, by the way, raised a question in The Ancient One's simple mind. How were the peafowl lured into the traps? Was food placed inside these cage like structures to entice them? If so, were city employees breaking the law by feeding peafowl? Or, as agents of the government, were they exempt from the provisions of the anti-feeding regulations?

Anyway, this program must have been carried out successfully. Although I saw no public announcement about the "trap them and ship them" campaign, almost overnight peafowl disappeared. Only a few remain like this lonely peacock I spotted the other day:

In addition, I have seen only 2 or 3 peahens, one of whom had 3 of the smallest peachicks (Is that the right word?) I have ever seen with her. The disappearance of so many peafowl has made The Ancient One wonder if the goal was to eliminate the flock rather than just thin it out. In the absence of a public outcry, I guess I'll never know.

At least a few of these beloved birds remain in the neighborhood. And when they are spotted, they will continue to bring a smile to The Ancient One's face.

Peacock Colors on Display

It happened Sunday morning while I was out walking. I came upon a peacock and several peahens. I do believe he was trying to impress the ladies as he displayed his colors in full.

When the peahens in attendance did not seem overly impressed, he offered them a different view.

You can see by their reactions how much the "turning tail" helped his cause. I think I was more impressed by his display, both front and back, than the young ladies were.

Enjoy!

Peacock Pride

There I was driving home the other day when I had to stop suddenly. Two peacocks, in all their glory, were strutting across the street and they were not about to get out of the way of my car. They were royalty and knew I would stop. Fortunately I had my camera with me.

As they turned past my car, I was able to capture 2 more pictures of one of these prideful birds.

Then, this morning as I was returning home I was stunned by a peacock who fanned his tail out full and then turned around 2 or 3 times to make sure I got the best view possible. It was only the 2^nd time in the 12 years we have lived in this neighborhood that I have seen the full display of peacock tail feathers. Unfortunately, I only had my cell phone's camera with me and the following picture does not do justice to the magnificent bird.

But oh how he made my day!! Enjoy!

Peahens on Parade

A few days ago I wrote about the PEACOCKS parading on our street (see previous post). Well, today was Ladies' Day as I spotted 3 PEAHENS strutting along while I was on my morning walk. (You may have to click on the photo to get a clear view.)

Shortly after I took the above picture with my cell phone camera, I was sitting at home and heard walking on the roof. Although I quickly dashed outside with the good camera and discovered that it was the hens I was hearing above my head, they would not cooperate and I could not get a clear shot.

That's it. The last peafowl photo of 2009. Enjoy!

Holiday Peacocks on Parade

As I went outside this morning to pick up the newspapers, there before me were 4 adult peacocks with magnificent tail feathers parading up the sidewalk on the other side of the street. By the time I got my camera, I was only able to get a couple of pictures good enough to put up here. You will note in one of them that two of these royal birds are checking out the territory of a "reindeer" in a neighbor's yard.

I am still fascinated by the peacocks in our area even though it has been a few months since I offered up pictures. Rarely have I seen 4 adult males together with not a peahen in sight. And it is even more unusual to see them on our block. They don't often roam this far from their usual gathering places a few blocks away.

Enjoy!

Early Morning Visitor

I went out to pick up the newspaper this morning and there was an early morning visitor. I went back in and grabbed my camera and returned. The young peahen was strutting her stuff:

Then she flew up on the roof and posed for me:

While the peafowl abound in out neighborhood, they do not often visit on our street. What a pleasant way to start the day. Enjoy!

Strolling With Peafowl

I had a pleasant surprise on my daily walk this morning. In an area where they generally are not seen, a pair of peafowl accompanied me. Fortunately, I had my camera with me and offer up, first, the peahen:

And her partner peacock:

I welcomed the company. Enjoy!

Peacock Silhouette

It's not a great photo but I couldn't resist. Driving up the street at dusk and there sitting on a rooftop was a peacock in silhouette. This is the best the cell phone camera would allow:

Look At Those Tail Feathers

I know it's not a great photo but it was the best I could do while driving this morning. There was a magnificent peacock strutting his stuff and he had the tail feathers to prove it.

Peacock Out For A Stroll. . .

Stopped the car driving home today to take a couple of (cell phone) pictures of this colorful fellow strolling along the sidewalk.

He was truly a proud, handsome fellow. And he's even sporting a bit of the green in honor of St. Pat's day. Too bad the photo quality isn't better.

Peacock Posing in the Breeze

It has rained a lot here the past few days but I found a sunny, windy window of time yesterday morning to take my walk. And that was when I came upon the peacock pictured below. He seemed to be posing on top the wall, facing into the wind and enjoying the brisk breeze ruffling his feathers.

He seemed to be enjoying himself so much that he remained in the same position on the wall as I walked around to get a profile view of this majestic bird.

I do thank him for brightening up the start of my day!

Peacocks. . .Animate and Inanimate

I spotted some peafowl in front of a house where some construction was going on while I was out walking a couple of days ago.

It wasn't a spectacular view, but it got me thinking about a house about ½ block away from where I spotted the proud birds. It's a house that was built by people who obviously loved peacocks. [I think I mentioned in an earlier post that folks either love or hate these loud, brash creatures; you just don't find many people who are neutral about them.] I could not get a picture of the etched glass front door but I did get the following photo of a large wooden gate toward the side of the house.

We have long admired this gate although the family that had it erected no longer lives in that house. While wooden peacocks are not as majestic as the real thing, in my opinion, the gate adds a bit of class to the neighborhood. In fact, as I recall, it was in this driveway several years ago where I first saw a peacock with his tail feathers fanned out fully. Unfortunately, I did not have a camera with me that day but I will always carry the memory with a smile.

Peacock of the Day. . .

Ah yes, the fellow pictured below strolled along near me on my daily walk this morning. I think he has been here before and is becoming a regular on our block.




Thanks for the company, proud bird!

Another Visit. . .

I am not sure why I am so fascinated by peacocks; I just am. I spotted another one today approaching our front door. By the time I got the camera out, he had turned but I was able to get the following picture as he headed around the front of my car.




Actually, I am not positive it is a "he." The tail feathers are lacking color but I believe that this is a young bird and they may not have developed yet. I guess I was just reacting to the bright coloring of the head and neck.

Anyway - I did enjoy another visit even if it was only for a minute or two at most.

A Family Came to Visit. . .

I was working out this morning, doing my semi-weekly strength training session in the garage when I heard a noise. I looked up and saw a peahen strutting in the open door. I guess my reaction startled her as she turned and headed across the driveway . . . followed by 4 youngsters, not babies but clearly youthful peafowl.

I was able to get one decent (not great) picture of mom with 3 of her offspring. At the time I snapped the picture, I believe the 4^th one was on the roof. They hung around for a while, appearing to be feeding on something buried in the ivy hedge.

My fascination with these large birds continues, especially when a family of them visits up close and personal.

Lost by a Peacock; Found by a Human

Standing in the driveway the other day, I noticed a feather which appears below. While I am sure that the peacock in question lost it while passing by, I would like to think of it as a gift to those of us who enjoys the beauty of these majestic birds.

Yes, I know that at times I seemed obsessed by the peafowl in our neighborhood. But our area is among the few where these birds live and breed and they are either loved or vilified by the residents. They can be loud and messy but seeing them always brings a smile to my face and brightens my day.

Strutting his Stuff

I got slowed up a bit this morning just 2 blocks from home but it was worth it. There was a magnificent peacock strutting across the street and I had to wait for him. He had a full complement of tail feathers although he did not fan them out for me. But he was a beauty and I did get a couple of pictures.

And There She Was. . .Staring at Me

I went to the front door and opened it a little while ago. And there she was, a Peahen, staring at me. She turned and left before I could get a picture but I followed her and did get the picture below as she stood at the side of the house determining her next move (which was to fly up to the roof).

While some would disagree, I have always found that one of the pleasures of living on the Palos Verdes Peninsula is the presence of peafowl. The peacocks are more colorful than their female companions but they all bring a smile to my face, especially when they come to our yard to visit.

Peacock on the Roof

Heard a loud crying sound outside the house the other day. In our neighborhood, we assumed it was a peacock. Ran outside and spotted the critter pictured below on the neighbor's roof. Enjoy!

A Tail of Many Colors

One of the great joys of living in Palos Verdes is the presence of peafowl. On the way home this morning I was surprised, as I rounded a curve, by a peacock with his tail fanned out in its full glory. The picture below does not do him credit; it took me too long to retrieve the camera and take it.

Oddly enough, these beautiful creatures are the source of great controversy in the community. People either love these birds or hate them. We are in the first group as we enjoy thier beauty and sometimes funny behavior. But there are those who feel that the size of their droppings, the penetrating sound of their call and their propensity to feed on plants and berries is reason enough to get rid of them. In our neighborhood, the flock was thinned out several years ago amid great debate. It has now grown back to a level where I expect the debate to flare once again. And that's not a pleasant thought. Live on you brilliant birds and continue to bring joy to those of us who rejoice in your beauty.