What will happen to them, Elizabeth? Well, first an
update: although the whole gang does not appear every day, last evening at
pre-roosting time all 12 were present, so there have been no losses. They usually
range widely during the day, occasional distant honks signalling that they have
been disturbed by a dog or an aggrieved gardener. (They like to eat flowers and
seedlings.)
The single advanced male now has its seasonal train about
2/3 grown. The 2 apparent breeding-age females will quite likely produce more
young this year. If there is not a determined campaign to remove them, I
suppose members of the expanding flock will colonise other areas. As they fly
well from an early age they could turn up some distance away. Apart from being
a nuisance to the Canberra Gardener, the noise they make is unpleasant to
some people. As Delacour says, "Their voice unfortunately is not up to
their plumage; the harsh resounding Hé-on of the Peacock is a challenge
and a love call, to which other unpleasant sounds are added”.
Delacour also says “It is popularly believed that
Peafowls associate with Tigers and Leopards and it is true that they are often
found in the same localities with these large cats, but the nature of the
association is not clear”. However, despite keeping an eye peeled while
walking the dogs, I have not so far seen, in this neighbourhood, as much as an
Ocelot, or even a Serval-cross. I think the Peafowls keep them away.
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Compston [
Sent: Sunday, 3 August 2008 7:49 PM
To: Dabb Geoffrey
Subject: peacocks
Come on, Geoffrey, what is going to happen to those
peacocks?
Elizabeth
