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.

The doctor comes to visit Mr. Bird

Concern that Mr. Bird, the original Poinsettia Heights peacock, has been losing blood caused us to schedule an appointment with exotic animal veterinarian Dr. Renata Schneider.

To prepare for this, David went to the local bait and tackle shop and bought a fishing net. Big as it was, no one thought it was big enough for a full feathered male peacock, so it wasn't used. Instead, neighbor Laurie volunteered to make the tackle. After only a few moments of excitement she had her arms around him. Then it was into a pet carrier borrowed from the Wildlife Care Center to wait for the doctor.

Mr. Bird got a very thorough exam in the garage. He has many many blood feathers and they are bleeding at the base, where they go into his skin. It is apparently normal and it is only dangerous if he were to lose a cup of blood in 24 hours, the doctor said.

His biggest problem seemed to be the blood attracted a terrible quantity of feather mites. The doctor and her assistant Jane sprayed him thoroughly for mites and gave him a dose of medicine (long syringe down his throat.) Because he has lost blood, they also gave him a shot of B vitamins.
The limp we've noticed could be arthritis or the way the earlier wound healed, the doctor said. There is no fresh wound, thankfully. They weighed him and he weighs 12 pounds! That's a big bird. The vet felt he had gained weight since her last visit, when she thought he seemed a little underweight.

The amazing thing is how they put him in a trance. In order to weigh him, the vet tech tucked his head under his wing and put her hand over his eyes. This totally calmed him and put him in what they called a trance. The tech was able to take her hands off him and for a minute -- she didn't want to risk it any longer on the chance he'd perk up and get away -- he stayed there totally calm, with head tucked in.

Once released, it was clear Mr. Bird had his feathers ruffled!

Mr. Bird leaves home

I heard thunder at sunset and the usual sound of Mr. Bird being vocally alarmed.

Except Mr. Bird sounded far away. And it was nearly dark!

As the sun set, we checked repeatedly, but no Mr. Bird appeared in our yard. His perch was empty.

This morning, as I drove to work, I had noticed him blocks from home, at the corner of Victoria Park and 18th Street. At the time, I thought: Wow, I don't remember seeing Mr. Bird this far away.

After dark, David and I decided to go for a peacock hunt. We walked Victoria Park to 18th Street, then took a right at the first street, so we were parallel to Victoria Park road on the other side of that canal.

As we reached Pionsettia Heights (the street that runs along the river and is the extension of 21st St. on the other side of the canal) David spotted him.

Mr. Bird stood atop a roof at the end of the street ( a house with the river in the back yard.) We watched for awhile, and eventually he settled into a semi-comfy position where we imagined he'd be OK for the night.

Did he go in search of the other peacocks (who have not been spotted for days)? Did he purposely go in search of a new perch or did he get lost as it got late?

We're worried he won't find his way back to our house. David plans to set the alarm for 6 a.m. and, armed with bird food, we will find him and entice him back to our block. David has visions of capturing and carrying him back. I have visions of leaving a four-block-long trail of bird food.

We're both nuts, right?