Aug 17
Arch-a-thon Post #29: Beauty
I recently visited Magnolia Plantation, a local attraction here in Charleston. There is a petting zoo on the grounds, where you can come face to face with goats, deer, rabbits, hens and peacocks.
Peacocks are amazing birds: their coloring is so striking. It almost appears that it would be impossible for anything to be that blue. Royal blue is my favorite color, so I thought you might enjoy looking at a few shots I was able to get of one of the peafowl in residence.
This Indian Blue peacock was nice enough to let me snap a few pictures before he decided he’d had enough of me. With markings like that, I’m sure he gets more than his share of attention, anyway.
The amazing tail is used to court the ladies, which are called peahens. Apparently, peahens are impressed by dramatic shows of affection.
This particular peacock apparently found no female in the immediate area worthy of his attention, so he refused to raise his tail.
I’m sure that within minutes of my leaving the area, he probably spread the tail for everyone to see. Everyone except me, that is.
But that’s fine. I was still able to snap a nice, detailed view of the markings. 
While the peacocks around here were particularly quiet on this day, I have heard that peacocks make a very loud screech sound that can make neighbors somewhat less than friendly.
But how can you really get mad at a piece of nature as incredible looking as this?
