Introducing Rodney

[Charl]

He's wild but well known on properties surrounding the neighbouring Reserve.
Come mating season he wanders and this year has taken up station on our deck rail.
The hens in the district apparently spurn him, being albino, but he does make quite the deck ornament.

[deeknow]

what a spectacular creature !!! there's someone out there for you Rodders !!!

[Charl]

He is that, Dean!
I've passed on your good wishes, he is working hard on that huge tailfan action.

[Splitpin]

Well hello Rodney ..... deeknow summed it well "what a spectacular creature !!! "
Charl , I hope you manage to get a shot of a full fan display, if he stays local.

Speaking of tails, we had a NOTAR Fantail in the school gym on Tuesday ..... he or she was still able to manoeuvre really well despite the lack of rudder.
Anyway, love to Rodney ....great post Sir.

[Charl]

Oh! Sir Rodney is a daily visitor.
Y'see we have these French doors, in whose reflection you can practice your Preen.
Like this:



Our fear is that someone steals him for an aviary, as he is a free agent in the 'Hood.

[Splitpin]

Wow...stunning, thank you Charl

[Splitpin]

Charl, sorry I should have added this to the last post, but, can he fly with that mass behind him?
I cant imagine there's much weight to it, but drag and steering must be a problem.....

[Charl]

Peacock stats:
He has around 200 tailfeathers, around 20% of total 5kg weight, shed and regrown annually.
Flight is a repositioning exercise rather than a migration.
But I've seen Rodney fly up into a tree which is 10m high.
And as you see above, he's happy to perch on the deck rail which is just a hop.

[Splitpin]

Rodney in full display mode , is now my wallpaper...well done mate , you displaced a 747-8.
Thanks again Charl, I am curious however about the name...I love it....is it a community name or just yours?

[emfrat]

Years ago I was at the animal park in Nowra with the grandkids. They have several peafowl including an albino one. They park is on the river bank in the Shoalhaven Gorge, which funnels the late Winter/early Spring westerlies and creates some havoc. The day we were there, one of the males was strutting his stuff for three bored-looking peahens. He finished in full display and turned round to see what the girls thought...and a westerly gust caught his tail and tipped him on his nose. One of the funniest things I have ever seen

[Charl]

In truth, the rear view of a fanned peacock is already a little comical...

well done mate , you displaced a 747-8

I will tell him, he loves being praised.

The Rodney tag came from a neighbour whose daughter attached it.
Nobody would think of calling him anything different.

And it goes beyond that - he is mascot and anchor tenant for what will become another Cornwall Park, in 100 years time.
The district is fully engaged.