FaceTime with Buddy

FaceTime chat with Buddy the peacock

Hey, Buddy, what's up? Are you going to have a nice tail this year? How's the family doing? I was so sorry to hear about Chickie—coyote is a terrible way to go. Don't forget that you can fly!

Did I tell you I dressed up as a peacock in flight for Halloween this year?

Costume depicting peacock in flight

A few of my feathers flew off while I was flying about the office, but that happens, right? I enjoyed educating my admirers on the various colors of peacock wing feathers and sent many of them running to google to see if my depiction was at all accurate. I highly enjoyed having wings for a day.

You take care now, Buddy, okay? Try to stay warm and safe! I know that snow you're getting right now isn't necessarily a peafowl's native climate.

Fowl Play

THIS WEEK, ON PEAFOWL WATCH:

Buddy the peacock says, "How you doin'?"

"What do you think of my feathers now?"

Chickie the peahen is not impressed.

"Hey, Buddy! Ur doin' it wrong!"

(Chickie's view of Buddy)

Not sure if you'll get the girl by showing her your backside, Buddy, but thanks for showing off your front for the camera!

Peafowl Update

I have a little sad news to report on the Peafowl Watch. My sister writes:

The brother/son peacock that wandered off through the neighborhood wasn't seen again, and the poor guy who had his feathers ripped out was killed on the road. We've still got Mom, Dad, and one son, and they come around for bread and crackers together in the evenings. The Mom had some eggs a couple of times over the summer, but they didn't make it. The males lost all their pretty feathers (naturally) over the summer and are now growing all new ones, so that should be pretty. I call the one who comes to the step and peers in for snacks "Buddy" and the other two Mom and Dad.  The three of them are running around together now, and Buddy is always the one who comes to the step and gets me to throw food for everyone.

Previously, I had reported that it was the Dad who had his tail feathers ripped out by a dog, but now I'm not sure if it was one of the sons instead? My sister says her neighbor, their owner, might not be able to tell one from the other, either. Regardless, we're two peafowl down! I have high hopes for Buddy, though, as he sounds a little smarter than the others. Here's hoping the rest can all stay away from the road, dogs, and other mysterious disappearances!

Poor Mr. Peacock

Remember the peafowl I videoed? That was one of the 3 sons of the peacock family that hangs out in my sister's backyard. The portrait below is of the father with one of his offspring. You can tell which one is the father because HE'S THE ONE THAT GOT ATTACKED BY A DOG AND LOST HIS TAIL FEATHERS!

My sister says his tail was the most beautiful of them all, and now he is ashamed and tries to hide. The internet tells me that peacocks molt at the end of every summer and then grow their feathers back, so fortunately Mr. Peacock will probably have a full tail back next year. My sister reports that he is already getting new growth, so maybe sooner? Stay tuned to PeafowlWatch here on The Merest Idea for the latest updates!

Forget llamas and emus — If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a peacock!

I visited my sister this weekend. Her neighbor keeps several peafowl that roam freely in the field behind their houses. Sometimes they strut by to say hello.

You would have thought we were at Malfoy Manor instead of along the interstate in semi-rural Kentucky!

Fun fact: The call of a peacock sounds like a distressed cat.

Educational fact: The female peafowl is called a peahen and only the male is called a peacock.

Tangential fact: This weekend I also realized and lamented the lack of a singular gender-neutral word for a bovine animal, other than cow (which technically means a female mother). Wikipedia articulately details this English language oversight and suggests "cattle beast" as the term I seek.