Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A surprising bird


On Sunday, we had a surprise. {Smile}

Dad and I were sitting in dining room near the end of lunch when mom came in. She said she’d heard a strange noise, and when she looked, it was a peacock. She led us to her bedroom window. Dad spotted the bird just before it went out of view back by the old carport. I didn’t, so when Dad went out back for a better look, I definitely followed. We found her behind the woodshop and the patio. Yes, her; technically, she was a peahen, which is a female peacock. {Smile}

She was wandering around, calling. A lot. I’ve heard peacocks call before, but not as often as this one did. I thought maybe she was looking for someone, like she was lost. Dad agreed.

He tried to get closer.  No problem. She let him get within six feet of her without showing fear. So she was obviously used to people. Dad thought she must be someone’s pet.  {Smile}

We went inside, and Dad tried to figure out who to call. After a few tries, he found someone who gave him the Humane Society’s after-hours number.  Unfortunately, that rang busy repeatedly. {lop-sided smile}

Eventually, Dad decided we really needed to get some milk, so he and I went to the store, and picked up that and a couple of other things we were nearly out of. He figured he could try again if the bird was still around when we got back.

She wasn’t. Mom said she left after a while; she thought the bird must have gone home for dinner. The way she was calling, I wonder. I honestly thought she was lost. Dad says at least she wasn’t our concern any more. I have to agree, since I know nothing about caring for peahens. {spread hands, Smile}

She hasn’t returned, either. I wish I knew she’d returned home for a happy reunion, or at least found someone to take care of her. I don’t. But I don’t know that she’s met a bad end, either. She spice up our Sunday afternoon quite a bit with her visit. {SMILE}

Anne Elizabeth Baldwin