Peacock Eggs
The last time I checked on the peacock nest, I found a pile of feathers and a few broken egg shells. Stunned, I stared at the empty space and imagined what might have happened. As soon as I called Chris, the peacock’s owner, she went out and did a head count on her birds. Then she came over, and the first thing she said was, “The peahen is okay. She flew over the fence and she’s home, safe, just missing some feathers.”
After examing the site, Chris had no doubt that the culprit was a raccoon. A coyote, she said, would have killed the bird and left the eggs, but a raccoon always goes for the eggs. While she has had an occasional coyote hanging around her duck pen, I’ve never seen a coyote on my property, although I hear them yipping in the valley behind me. Raccoons are frequent visitors here, despite my efforts to discourage them by covering the bird feeders and taking in Mr. Stray’s cat food at night.
I am disappointed not to get to watch newly hatched baby peacocks. Even more, I feel sorry for the bird who sat so faithfully on her eggs, only to lose them all. I hope she isn’t too traumatized by her ordeal.
The twin fawns are thriving, and make me laugh every morning as they cavort in the field.