Peacock Delights
Peacocks have lived about a mile from our house for over 20 years.
When the world became still during the lockdown they made it over the hill to our street.
They keep coming back for the bird seed on our front patio, or to hunt for grubs in the garden mulch.
Over the last three years we have witnessed peacock “dates”. I have been notified that more bird seed was required by honks outside the front door. Discovered red Spanish peanuts are the favorite of Mr. “One Feather”. For a while he only had one eye feather. They grow new ones each year.
One day a peacock practiced his mating dance in the driveway. Those fully fanned feathers shimmered and shaked, the low frequency sound was otherworldly. Such a mesmerizing experience.
More than amazing to watch them fly!
I take great delight in each gifted feather, especially the little blue or iridescent green tipped ones. My collection now contains each type of feather due to this year’s visitor preening.
These glorious birds never cease to amaze me with their beautiful colors. Little known fact, they sound like typewriters while eating larger seeds or nuts.
It is fun to think of them as messengers or colorful earth angels who spread joy. On my hard day they make me smile. No wonder, a peacock feather is a symbol of rebirth and hope. Also considered a sign of good luck.
Could it be possible that this bird is my spirit animal, hard to say. They definitely lift my mood.
It always feels like the peacocks bring a bit of magic to our front door.
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How it all began - with sugar, my husband would make hummingbird nectar. He wanted to take care of other species is how the bird seed pile on the front patio came to be. Cracked corn was added for the bunnies, they finally stopped eating our succulents by adding water stations.
It actually amazed me to see the plants along the path respond to their nibbling. The plants grew longer stalks to help be out of the “rabbit zone”.
Nature is so resourceful, resilient, and magical.
A constant reminder on how to be.
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Sweet Beginnings
it all started with sugar
nectar carefully
made for the hummers
by my love just right
one station
turned into four
then seven
sweetness out back
sweetness out front
antics of orioles
who compete for sweet sips
helped to wipe away my tears
40 lb bag
of bird seed
added to the menu
confetti mixture
millet, sunflower seeds
with bits of red milo
mourning doves, sparrows
scaly breasted munia
cowbirds, and grosbeak
fly down for a meal
peacocks
peahens
make it a date
let me know
if the seed
is put out late
side by side thicks rows
of delish delights
one cottontail
two cottontails
sometimes three
along with a bunch of birds
show up at our door
expect breakfast, lunch, and dinner
silly rabbits sit
on cracked corn
guard their feed
childhood dreams come true
to live on bunny hill
where hummingbirds buzz
flocks gather out front and back
to view them from the upstairs window
makes me feel like Snow White
all because of the elixir
my love made
sweetness
to balance out the sorrow
and to think it all started with sugar
