Weekend Snapshot again!
My weekends very often have the same routine – the sanctuary on Saturdays and yoga on Sundays – but the events that make up my routine are never themselves routine, and so I continue to enjoy them week after week.
This weekend at the sanctuary the peacock, Edward, was in a very male kind of mood! He was constantly displaying, which is not his usual behavior at all. There are unfortunately no peahens for him to show off to, and so he was reduced to displaying for the chickens, who did not seem at all impressed!
In fact, one of the roosters (himself a gorgeous fellow) crowed while Edward was showing off. He ignored the humans, who were very impressed with his display! You can see from these different pictures and different angles how the feathers can look quite bland or extremely eye-catching, depending on how the light is hitting them. It was quite overcast on Saturday, so despite his best efforts, Edwards feathers really weren’t shown at their best!
And since most people have probably seen pictures of peacocks in full display from the front, but not the back, I thought I’d show both. It is funny – as colorful as they are from the front, they wear quite somber colors in the back!
Peacocks and those “eyes” in their tail feathers have fascinated humans for a really long time. If you’re interested in learning the Greek mythology version of how Peacocks and their feathers came to be, read about Zeus’ seduction of Io!
December 17, 2007 at 8:34 am
Those roosters are looking mighty handsome, too!
December 17, 2007 at 10:17 am
Your photographs are so vivid. Looks like the perfect place to go on the weekend. I’d enjoy going there every weekend. Have a good week.
December 17, 2007 at 12:14 pm
beautiful! i love their feathers a lot…nice shots!
December 17, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Yes, they are very beautiful from the front. I volunteered at the zoo one summer and we were allowed to collect the peacock feathers if they had already fallen off. My mother displayed them in a big wicker vase in the living room. She doesn’t have them anymore.
December 17, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Beautiful! The one with the roosters is my favorite. Thanks for showing the peacock from the back. I don’t remember ever having considered that view before. 😉
December 17, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Wow that is so pretty…Mine Is Up Too:
Every Beat Of My Heart
December 17, 2007 at 6:14 pm
There is just SOMETHING about peacock feathers, isn’t there???? The symbolism is rich and replete in almost every major religion of the world.
I love the colors….all those cool shades of green and blue are the BEST!
You’ve done a great job with your camera again 🙂
December 17, 2007 at 8:02 pm
@Sandy – I agree, those are some pretty roosters! Their colors are just eye-catchingly rich!
@Carver – thanks! It is generally the highlight of my weeks. I bet you’d enjoy it. Have a good week yourself!
@Jennyr – those feathers are so interesting, aren’t they?
@Kat – I bet they looked gorgeous displayed in the wicker vase!
@FW – lol. The back view is somehow not at all what I’d have expected from a peacock! I thought it was pretty cute the way Edward was displaying for the chickens .
@Anna – thanks! I’ll be visiting soon!
@Grace – there really is something about peacock feathers! I have never really heard any of the religious symbolism other than in Greek mythology (which is most likely the same as roman mythology since a good portion of roman mythology was taken straight from the greeks), but it would be interesting to read up on it!
December 17, 2007 at 8:55 pm
What a neat series of shots! Peacocks are so beautiful!
December 17, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Very colorful. Get that guy a peahen! He needs some lovin’ STAT!
December 17, 2007 at 9:48 pm
@Natalie – thanks! They really are eye-catching!
@Scott – lol. He’s been in mourning for his lost lady love, but he might be ready to venture out and hit the singles scene soon!
December 30, 2007 at 8:25 pm
what a wonderful place to be living in!
I envy you.. 🙂
December 31, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Thanks! I’m always thankful to have the sanctuary to go to on weekends. 🙂