Drama in the wild kingdom as a big bird visits

Peacocks watch as a big visitor takes to the air between them.
(Photo by Bonnie Gross)

The two peacocks in the neighborhood were interested to see a big white bird on the lawn in front of a house on Northeast 21st Street, and approached to check it out.

The big white bird — a great egret, I presume — wasn't looking for company but it had its eye on prey (a lizard?) in the those bushes and wasn't going to flee until it got it.

The blue peachick eventually started doing its silly raised-feather salute but Ms. Bird stayed calm as she edged closer. Perhaps, with its long neck, she thought it might be another white peahen?

Certainly the peacocks were showing much more interest in this bird than they do in the old-hat Muscovy ducks in the neighborhood.

Ultimately the big bird got its meal and immediately took off. That's when Bonnie clicked the shutter and nailed this great photo.

Ms. Bird took the egret's take off calmly but blue bird went all haywire, running across the road as if to chase the big bird... on foot. Ms. Bird chased her chick with that "there the kid goes again" concern every parent would recognize.

The big bird soared past one more time as if to rub in its superior flying skills and soared off over the rooftops.