My Encounter with the Indian Peafowls

During the construction days of my house, the construction workers and the layout watchman used to boast about peafowls coming out to the layout or gardens in early mornings or at late evenings. They were stunned by the colorful beauties as they forage the layout. That was when the passion for birding and bird watching developed in me. Immediately, I purchased a binocular and 2 books about birds.

 

From the sources, I came to know the existence of peafowls on our land. There is a TVS Motor Plant 1.5 km from our layout that are rearing peafowls for 4- 5 decades. Some of the peafowls had escaped from the place and spread out to breed elsewhere. Hence, we are lucky to have peafowls around our place. This is our Pride. This is the only township (not well developed) in this locality where peafowls visit freely. Prior to our house construction, the old watchman of the layout narrated that about 70 peafowls used to visit our site which included some 100 plants including flowering plants in pots (which we shifted from Bangalore city) laid in the garden during the wee hours and late evenings. Their visits gradually decreased during house construction.

 Soon after the construction, we moved into this new house. The natural environment was filled with peafowls and other birds' calls. My first goal was to spot a peacock in the woods from my 2nd-floor terrace. Initially, I did spot them some 100 feet away in the woods, either resting on a tree or foraging on the grounds. But I was not too contented as they were quite far away. Few peacocks with a long train and few peahens used to make regular appearances on a hillock which fringed the eastern part outside the layout and in our layout. Once I spotted a peacock in our layout and pursued it. It ended up on the hillock. Suddenly, I was embarrassed by my actions and decided not to pursue them like this. I decide to shoot them with my camera as they come close by. 

Once maintenance work was going on in our layout. One of the workers, who was in an intoxicated state, had decided to take a short cut through the hillock to return home since the distance from the main road to our layout is about 400 meters. The worker ascended the hill perhaps in a tottering manner which had disturbed the peahens and peachicks dwelling at one spot of the hillock. Upon sighting him, the peafowls charged at him. Going terrified, the worker came down at top speed. He later narrated this incident to us, and we all had a good laugh.

   

 As time went by, one by one the peafowls began to rediscover our backyard. They sighted the grains tray and noticed the small birds feeding at it. Gradually, two of the young peacocks came forward to relish the grains. Each time they step into our garden, they feel nervous, but bravely come towards the tray to relish the grains. Any slight sound of a window or door movement frightens them, and they escape immediately. They used to get terrified upon seeing us entering the garden. But by sighting our calm nature they have learned to relax. 

 Once during the early morning when my mother went out to the backyard, 3 peafowls perched on the coconut trees were spying on her. Usually, they would fly off whenever a door opens. However, they waited patiently for her to put fresh grains into the empty trays and then they instantly flew off. Perhaps, they wanted to know when the trays will be brimming with grains again. Therefore, they too have become regular visitors to the backyard. But the other birds like parakeets, common mynas are not pleased with their visit. The parakeets always startle these Big beauties by making squawking calls while they are feeding which startles them. However, they have gathered some courage and spend more time in our backyard by relaxing on the fence or so.