Neighborhood's magnificent blue peacock is gone

Our last photo of the peacock we named Lord Byron.

The blue peacock, the one my wife nicknamed "Lord Byron" because of his magnificent plumage, is dead. He was the last of Ms. Bird's two chicks, born in July, 2014.

He had been watched with delight by the entire neighborhood.

We spotted his feathers dragged along the center of NE 18th Street at Victoria Park Road this morning on our walk. His feathers are unmistakable, of course. Obviously he had been hit by a vehicle.

It appears someone had removed as much of the body as possible. That was a merciful thing to do.

We have not spotted Ms. Bird so far this morning. We have no reason to believe she was hurt and we hope she is OK and was not driven off.

Peacocks are wild animals, and the ones in this neighborhood have never really been pets, although some residents have claimed to have tamed them to some degree. There is no way I know to keep them "safe."

Of course they lack knowledge of traffic rules.

Lord Byron, in particular, was becoming a regal male, repeatedly spreading his feathers to boss around the local ducks and pigeons. Dominance was becoming his business, as it is for male peacocks.

He was wary, but never afraid.

We enjoyed his displays but will always remember him best as the gawky chick he was, the apple of his mother's eye.