Learning from the birds.

I took these pictures outside the zoo yesterday. I was walking home from work. I often see peacocks on my walk, but have never run into one displaying full regalia. It was quite impressive. People encircled the bird. The peacock seemed to be posing, turning from time to time to face his paparazzi. I think he was really just trying to scare the adults and the children who only wanted to get closer. Perhaps in his mind he was making himself larger and therefore more threatening. Maybe in the bird world this works. We, the people, are too fascinated, even to the smallest child. We want to touch nature. We want to know somehow, we are part of nature. This is encouraging.

Also encouraging were the comments from the adults to the children. "Don't get so close. Don't scare him. Don't Touch Him! Peacocks can be dangerous. Stand back and look. Come over here and see." Very encouraging. Good parents, good!

What a wonderful adaptation the peacock has made. So beautiful. So blue and green and turquoise! Those peahens must be a picky lot. I love the theory that birds in general have descended from dinosaurs. Exquisite beings who grace us with a random appearance. The peacocks and peahens in Balboa Park run free. We have them wandering around our backstage some evenings, all hands trying to keep them from trotting onstage. We always see two peacocks to one peahen. Competition! (They fly to the trees and "talk" in that weird call that is uniquely peacock.) We've called the zoo, and they've said, "we don't care... we have lots of peacocks." They can't control them, and the peacocks wander where they will.

"Proud as a peacock." Well, if one can be proud of one's beauty... it would certainly be the peacock. (It works for them.) We are just anthropomorphizing them though. All the peacock wants to do is attract the peahen and make a donation. His other motivation is self-preservation. Okay, I am imagining... trying to walk a mile in the peacock's claws? feet? talons? um... Doesn't translate. (UNAW - CAOW!) (They are Sooo LOUD!)

Well, this fine bird was a hit, I'm happy to say. He brought a unique experience to those of us just walking by, on our way to or from the places we go. Clearly not the bird's motivation, or intent, but there it is. This dear bird has to share the planet with us. This bird has learned to share the planet. We can learn something here.